Latest news with #SzeFei-Izzuddin
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Sze Fei-Izzuddin off to shaky start in Indonesia Open
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani survived a stern opening test to set up an all-Malaysian second-round clash with Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong at the Indonesia Open. Sze Fei-Izzuddin were made to work hard before overcoming Taiwan's Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen 17-21, 21-17, 21-14 in a 58-minute battle at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta on Tuesday. The win marked their fourth straight victory and extended their head-to-head dominance over the world No. 21 Taiwanese brothers to 7-1. The come-from-behind victory came as a relief for Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who are under pressure to maintain their world No. 1 status for a third consecutive week. Next up, they face familiar opponents in Azriyn-Wee Kiong — fellow independent shuttlers and training partners — for a place in the quarter-finals. Azriyn-Wee Kiong had earlier cruised past China's Xie Hao Nan-Zeng Wei Han 21-17, 21-12 in a confident display.
The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
Sze Fei-Izzuddin overcome nervy start to advance into second round at Indonesian Open
PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin had a nervy start before pulling through in the opening round of the Indonesian Open at Istora Senayan in Jakarta on Tuesday (June 3). Having just beaten Taiwan's Lee Fang-chih-Lee Fang-jen at the Singapore Open last week, Sze Fei-Izzuddin were expected to cruise past the same pair. But the Malaysian duo found themselves in trouble after dropping the first game. Fortunately, they regrouped in the second game to force a decider and went on to seal a 17-21, 21-17, 21-14 win in 58 minutes. Sze Fei-Izzuddin will face fellow Malaysians Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Azriyn Ayub in the second round. Wee Kiong-Azriyn enjoyed a smoother outing as they brushed aside China's Xie Haonan-Zeng Weihan 21-17, 21-12. Earlier, last year's finalists Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun made a strong start to their campaign with a convincing 21-6, 21-11 win over the United States' Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith to move into the second round. The seventh seeds will next take on compatriots Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, who advanced after receiving a walkover from France's Eloi Adam-Leo Rossi.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sze Fei-Izzuddin cling on to top spot, Aaron-Wooi Yik closing in
KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have retained their status as the world no. 1 pair - but the fight to stay at the top is far from over as they head into the Indonesia Open this week, with threats coming from both abroad and at home. Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who last month became the first Malaysian shuttlers to reach the top of the world rankings since Lee Chong Wei in June 2017, nearly lost their grip following a quarter-final exit at the Singapore Open. They were fortunate that world No. 2 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen failed to capitalise. The Danes, who had only just surrendered the top spot to the Malaysians a week earlier, needed to reach the final in Singapore to reclaim it - but fell short. Now, Sze Fei-Izzuddin must fend off a new threat - in-form compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. Fresh off their title win in Singapore, the world No. 3 pair have surged into genuine contention, narrowing the gap to just 1,220 points heading into the Super 1000 tournament in Jakarta. Meanwhile, Malaysia Masters champions Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who finished runners-up to Aaron-Wooi Yik in Singapore, continue to hold firm at world No. 7. In the men's singles, Lee Zii Jia has slipped two more spots to No. 15 as he works his way back from injury. However, he remains eligible for all World Tour events thanks to his protected ranking of No. 9. Leong Jun Hao stays as Malaysia's second-highest ranked men's singles player at No. 25, followed by rising star Justin Hoh, who climbs two places to No. 43. In doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei continue to lead the way in the women's and mixed disciplines respectively, both maintaining their world No. 4 standings. Also flying the flag in mixed doubles are Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, who remain steady at No. 5. Goh Jin Wei remains Malaysia's top-ranked women's singles player, though still well behind the leading pack at No. 49. Men's doubles continues to be the nation's strongest department, with six pairs currently inside the world's top 32 — the cut-off that ensures automatic entry into World Tour events. The other three pairs are Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King (No. 23), Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong (No. 28), and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (No. 32). In the women's doubles, Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing are the only other Malaysian pair within the top 32 at No. 23, while Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin sit No. 13 in mixed doubles.
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
New status boon or bane?
PETALING JAYA: Professional men's doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have a chance to live up to their new world No. 1 status at the Indonesian Open starting today in Jakarta. The top seeds, however, knows that it will not be an easy job but it is not an impossible task to pull off either. Sze Fei-Izzuddin are the first pros to rise to the summit of world ranking and the fifth Malaysian pair to stand tall at that position after Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng (2002), Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah (2004), Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (2007) and Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (2016). They moved up one rung to the historic top spot last week but days later, they were sent packing in the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open. Chong Ming hailed their rise in the ranking as exceptional but acknowledged that the status comes with huge expectations and attention. 'All eyes will be on them now. They will be the target,' said Chong Ming during the ongoing Daikin International Championships that had attracted over 5,000 entries at Sunsuria Pioneer Badminton Centre in Kota Damansara yesterday. 'While it is a great accomplishment to reach to the top as not many get to do this, but it also comes with lots of pressure. 'We saw that when they played in the Singapore Open. First hurdle: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will face the Lee twin brothers – Fang-chih-Fang-jen of Taiwan in the first round of the Indonesian Open today. 'Now, everyone will expect them to live up to that favourite tag as the top seeds but that can adversely affect their match temperament if they don't know how to deal with it. Being in the same precarious position before, Chong Ming said the trick was to stay composed but admitted that it would take time to master it. 'Most of the times, those who ascend to the summit will find it hard to remain there. It's a challenge to maintain it as we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves but if we don't over think it, it is possible to reign for long. 'Sze Fei-Izzuddin have to work doubly hard to maintain it too. It's not impossible to be consistent at that level as some of the players have done it before,' he said. Chong Ming hoped to see a better performance from Sze Fei-Izzuddin in Jakarta, as the pair had slowed down for almost three months since enjoying a stretch of back-to-back victories. 'You can see a drop in their game but hopefully, they will pick up from where they left last year when they were on fiery form,' said Chong Ming. Sze Fei-Izzuddin started brilliantly this year when they emerged as the Indian Open winners in January, following up on the back of a sensational second half in 2024. Then, they had won the Japan Open (Aug), China Open (Oct), Arctic Open (Oct) and finished as the runners-up at the World Tour Finals (Dec). In the Indonesian Open, Sze Fei-Izzuddin will face the Lee twin brothers – Fang-chih-Fang-jen of Taiwan in the first round and should they win, they will face the winners of the match between Wee Kiong-Nur Azriyn Ayob and China's Xie Haonan-Zeng Weihan. Also in their half are also three other Malaysian pairs – reigning Singapore Open winners Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Wan Junaidi Wan Arif-Yap Roy King. Malaysia have not won the men's doubles title in the Super 1000 since Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif won in 2008. Wei Chong-Kai Wun, however, pulled off a surprise by winning the lower-tier Indonesian Masters in January.
New Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
World No. 1 Sze Fei-Izzuddin roll on in Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani continued their fine form at the Singapore Open with a commanding victory over fellow Malaysians Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King on Thursday. Sze Fei-Izzuddin were in cruise control as they secured a 21-13, 21-11 win over the world No. 23 pair, extending their winning streak to three matches without dropping a game. The top seeds have now equalled their best run at the Singapore Open and will be eyeing a breakthrough title, buoyed by the momentum of reaching the world No. 1 ranking on Tuesday. Sze Fei-Izzuddin will take on either India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty or Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in the quarter-finals.
