Defending champions and world No. 2 men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani suffered a shock early exit from the China Open, falling to South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk and Ki Dong Ju in the first round.
In their first-ever encounter, the unseeded Korean pair outplayed the Malaysians in a hard-fought 56-minute battle, clinching the match 21-15, 15-21, 21-17 at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Changzhou.
The defeat marks a disappointing turn for Sze Fei and Izzuddin, who had been riding high after finishing as runners-up at the Japan Open just days earlier — a tournament where they fell to another Korean duo, Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, in the final.
Despite a strong start in the opening game, the Malaysian pair struggled to sustain their rhythm, allowing their lower-ranked opponents to take control in the deciding moments of the match.
The early exit adds to a turbulent stretch for Sze Fei and Izzuddin, who now face mounting pressure to regain their top form ahead of next month’s World Championships.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
