Sze Fei-Izzuddin End 18-Year Drought with Historic Indonesian Open Triumph

JAKARTA: Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, produced a remarkable comeback to capture the Indonesian Open title on Sunday, ending the nation’s 18-year wait for a men’s doubles champion at one of badminton’s most prestigious tournaments.

The world No. 8 duo recovered from a slow start to defeat Indonesia’s Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin, ranked No. 12 in the world, 13-21, 21-19, and 21-10 in an exhilarating 49-minute final at the iconic Istora Senayan in Jakarta.

After dropping the opening game, the Malaysians showed resilience and composure to turn the match around, edging a tense second game before dominating the decider to seal a memorable victory in front of a passionate home crowd.

The triumph marks a significant milestone for Malaysian badminton, as Sze Fei and Izzuddin became the country’s first men’s doubles champions at the Indonesian Open since Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Fairuzizuan Tazari lifted the title in 2008.

The victory also adds another major achievement to the pair’s growing résumé. Having claimed the China Open title in 2024, Sze Fei and Izzuddin have now secured their second Super 1000 crown, reinforcing their status among the world’s elite men’s doubles combinations.

Sunday’s win continued their impressive record against Raymond and Nikolaus, with the Malaysians now holding a 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head meetings. Their previous victory over the Indonesian pair also came in Jakarta, when they won the Indonesian Masters final earlier this year.

The latest success is expected to boost the confidence of Sze Fei and Izzuddin as they continue their pursuit of more major titles on the international badminton circuit while providing a timely lift for Malaysian badminton ahead of a busy second half of the season.