Latest news with #SzeFei-Izzuddin
The Star
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
BAM are open for pros Sze Fei-Izzuddin to train under Herry
PETALING JAYA: Independent men's doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani can train under coach Herry Iman Piengadi through a win-win arrangement with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). If both sides are agreeable, pros Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who are currently under the Road to Gold (RTG) Olympic programme, can work with BAM to arrange scheduled joint training sessions under Herry. BAM secretary general Kenny Goh said that the national body had always been open for professionals to train at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) on a scheduled basis. "We have no problems to accept them to train with us, perhaps on a schedule basis. At the moment, there isn't any request from them," said Kenny. Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who left BAM at the end of August last year to turn independent, it seems had expressed an interest to return to the national fold a few months ago but they did not follow through. The possibility may have been more attractive for the duo due to the presence of Herry, who replaced Tan Bin Shen as the men's doubles head coach in February. The legendary Indonesian has already made his mark, guiding Aaron-Wooi Yik to the Asian Championships, Singapore Open and Thailand Open titles and helped Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun triumph in the Malaysian Masters. Sze Fei-Izzuddin also had praised Herry's coaching after taking part in joint training sessions in the lead-up to the Sudirman Cup in April. After a dip in form, the pair seem to have regained some of their best in the Japan Open where they finished runners-up to South Korea's Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho in Tokyo on Sunday. It was Sze Fei-Izzuddin's first final since capturing the Indian Open in January. The pair are next attempting to defend their China Open title in the tourney starting today in Changzhou. Sze Fei-Izzuddin have a tricky opening match against Korea's Kang Min-hyuk-Ki Dong-ju. Meanwhile, Aaron-Wooi Yik will face Denmark's Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard in the first round and will be out to make amends after a shock opening round exit at the hands of fellow Malaysians Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi in Japan. The other Malaysians in the fray in the men's doubles are Wei Chong-Kai Wun, Yew Sin-Ee Yi, Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian.
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sze Fei-Izzuddin set for BAM return?
KUALA LUMPUR: Are men's doubles Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani on their way back to the BA of Malaysia (BAM) just 10 months after turning professional? The pair, who will lose their world No. 1 ranking when the new BWF list is released on Tuesday, appear to be rethinking their path after a worrying dip in form. According to reliable sources, they approached BAM recently to explore the possibility of a return. The major draw? Indonesian coach Herry IP — the man behind the resurgence of world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who have won four titles between them this year since his arrival at BAM in February. Sze Fei-Izzuddin quit BAM in September last year — just a week after winning the Japan Open. They went on to claim the China Open, Arctic Open, and India Open in January, shooting up to world No. 1 eight weeks ago. But they haven't won a title since their India Open triumph, and their reign at the top ends this week after they failed to defend their Japan Open crown, losing to South Korea's world No. 3 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae on Sunday. The Koreans will officially take over the top spot on Tuesday, with Sze Fei-Izzuddin expected to drop two places in the rankings. Former national shuttler Datuk James Selvaraj believes a return to BAM would be a step in the right direction. "Sze Fei-Izzuddin will definitely gain a lot by rejoining BAM. Herry's coaching has been a game-changer for our national pairs," said James. "Herry and doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky are focusing on power and speed — a system that would suit Sze Fei-Izzuddin and help reverse their recent decline. "Their return could also raise the level of our other men's doubles pairs and strengthen Malaysia's depth on the world stage." Sze Fei-Izzuddin had previously praised Herry's training methods during a short centralised training stint at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara ahead of the Sudirman Cup in May — a stint that may have rekindled their interest in rejoining the national fold. "Physical endurance, or the lack of it, seems to be a key reason behind their struggles. That's something BAM can help with," added James. "In today's game, support services are crucial — strength training, recovery, physio and mental coaching. "As independents, they've had to manage everything on their own. "With BAM, all of that is under one roof. But if they do return, they must commit fully." Top seeds Sze Fei-Izzuddin will now turn their attention to defending their China Open title. They face a tricky first-round clash against South Korea's world No. 49 Kang Min Hyuk-Ki Dong Ju on Wednesday.
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Sze Fei-Izzuddin miss chance to make history, set to lose world No. 1 ranking
PETALING JAYA: It was a double blow for shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani after the duo missed out on their second consecutive Japan Open title and are also set to lose their world No. 1 ranking. Yesterday (July 19), Sze Fei-Izzuddin went down 16-21, 17-21 to South Korean hotshots Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho in the final at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Seung-jae-Won-ho, who are currently ranked No. 3 in the world, would also officially take over from Sze Fei-Izzuddin as the new world No. 1 pair when the rankings list updates tomorrow (July 21). The independent pair were hoping to become the first Malaysians in the men's doubles to win the title in Japan more than once, but found the Koreans too hot to handle and lost out in a fast-paced match lasting just 38 minutes. Sze Fei admitted that Seung-jae-Won-ho were the better pair on the day. "The Koreans are very fast. We tried to catch up with them, but they were just too good," said Sze Fei, in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF). "We had nothing to prove against them. We just wanted to play our best and enjoy the game." It was Sze Fei-Izzuddin's second defeat to Seung-jae-Won-ho in three meetings after also coming up second best to the latter in the All-England second round in March. The Malaysians' sole victory over the high-flying Koreans so far came in the Indian Open final in January. Seung-jae-Won-ho have established themselves as the pair to beat this year as they added the Japan Open crown to their titles in the All-England, Malaysian Open, German Open and Indonesian Open. The 27-year-old Seung-jae also gained sweet revenge over Sze Fei-Izzuddin after losing to the latter in the final in Japan last year with former partner Kang Min-hyuk. Sze Fei-Izzuddin, though, can take heart that this is their best showing this year since their triumph at the Indian Open. The pair had made it to their first final since the win in India after failing to reach the last four in all their other outings this year. Sze Fei-Izzuddin are now looking to bounce back quickly in the China Open, which starts tomorrow in Changzhou. The duo are hoping to defend their title in China and snatch back their No. 1 ranking from Seung-jae-Won-ho. "We will prepare ourselves better next time and just focus on ourselves," said Izzuddin.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'We were outclassed,' Sze Fei-Izzuddin concede after defeat
KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani lost it lock, stock and barrel in Tokyo on Sunday, and they had no complaints. The Malaysian men's doubles pair were simply outpaced and outclassed by newly-crowned Japan Open champions Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea, who lived up to their billing as the sport's fastest-rising duo. Their 21-16, 21-17 defeat in just 38 minutes meant Malaysia finished the Super 750 tournament without a single title. Earlier in the day, women's doubles world No. 3 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah also fell in straight games to China's world No. 1 Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning. It was an especially painful blow for defending champions Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who will now make way for Won Ho-Seung Jae as the new world No. 1 pair when the BWF rankings are updated on Tuesday. "They were just very fast and too good, although we tried to catch up with their speed," said Sze Fei at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. "We had nothing to prove — we just wanted to play our best and enjoy the game." Tokyo had been the launchpad for their golden run last year — with titles at the China Open, Arctic Open, and India Open following shortly after — a streak that eventually pushed them to the world No. 1 spot on May 27. But their reign will end after just eight weeks, with the pair now set to drop to No. 3, behind compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. Izzuddin admitted they were overwhelmed by the blistering pace of the Koreans. "We tried to match their speed, but they managed to stay ahead," said Izzuddin. "We just have to be better prepared and focus more on improving our game." Their coach Teo Kok Siang praised his charges for their run to the final — their first since winning the India Open in January. "In this tournament, we gave it our all. Credit to the players for their effort and performance," said Kok Siang. "We'll keep pushing forward and work even harder to achieve better results in the future." Roles will be reversed in China next week. Sze Fei-Izzuddin will now look to defend their China Open crown, while the new world No. 1 Won Ho-Seung Jae begin their reign at the Super 1000 event in Changzhou on Tuesday.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sze Fei-Izzuddin lose Japan Open final and world No. 1 ranking
KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani's hopes of retaining their Japan Open crown were dashed on Sunday by South Korea's in-form duo Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae in the men's doubles final. The Malaysians, who claimed a career-defining title at the same tournament last year, were outplayed 21-16, 21-17 by the Won Ho-Seung Jae at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. It was a statement win for Won Ho-Seung Jae, who are set to rise to the world No. 1 spot for the first time when the new BWF world rankings are released on Tuesday — displacing Sze Fei-Izzuddin at the summit. Sze Fei-Izzuddin are expected to drop to third as a result of failing to defend their title-winning points from last year. The Koreans, who only paired up earlier this year, have now racked up five titles in a dream season, underlining their unstoppable form heading into the Paris World Championships next month.
