National men’s doubles Sze Fei-Izzuddin win Japan open

KUALA LUMPUR: The national men’s doubles pair, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, caused a sensation at the 2024 Japan Open by claiming their first title of the season with a victory over world champions from South Korea, Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae, earlier today.

According to Berita Harian, the 21-19, 21-15 win over Min Hyuk and Seung Jae in the Super 750 tournament effectively erased the disappointment of the world’s 12th-ranked pair after their loss in the final of the Badminton Asia Championship last April.

The first set at Yokohama Arena was intensely contested, with Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin initially leading their opponents before being overtaken by the fourth-ranked pair midway through the game.

Min Hyuk and Seung Jae briefly led before Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin mounted a comeback, though the Korean pair managed to level the score at 15-15.

The two pairs traded points before Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin surged ahead to secure the set 21-19.

In the second set, Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin maintained their momentum, leading the game 11-8.

They continued to widen the gap before sealing the victory with a 21-15 win, thus taking home the prize money of USD 62,900 (RM 274,000).

For the record, the last time a national men’s doubles pair won the Japan Open was in 2002, with the duo of Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng.

Yesterday, the Badminton Association of Malaysia confirmed that Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin’s application to turn professional starting September 1st was accepted.