Malaysian men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani clinched their first-ever BWF Super 1000 series title at the VICTOR China Open 2024, held at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center, Changzhou.
In a thrilling three-set match, Sze Fei and Izzuddin overcame China’s fifth-seeded duo, He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu, with a score of 13-21, 21-12, 21-17 in 58 minutes.
The Malaysian pair started the match sluggishly, allowing their Chinese opponents to race ahead to a 6-0 lead in the first set. Despite attempts to close the gap, He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu maintained control with relentless attacks and strong smashes, finishing the set 21-13.
The match was briefly interrupted when the medical team attended to Xiang Yu, who appeared to be struggling with a back injury. This setback for China seemed to shift the momentum.
In the second set, Izzuddin and Sze Fei came back strongly, taking an early lead of 8-4. Capitalizing on Xiang Yu’s injury, they widened the gap to 16-7 before closing the set with a commanding 21-12 victory, forcing the match into a decider.
The Malaysian pair’s confidence soared in the final set. They stormed ahead to a 4-1 lead, putting immense pressure on their Chinese rivals. Sze Fei and Izzuddin continued their dominance, maintaining their composure and taking a 20-16 lead. They sealed the victory at 21-17, becoming the first-ever Malaysian men’s doubles team to win a BWF Super 1000 title.
This victory marked their second title of the season, following their triumph at the Japan Open a month earlier. With their win, Sze Fei and Izzuddin pocketed a substantial cash prize of US$148,000 (RM622,361), while the Chinese pair earned US$70,000 (RM294,360).
Notably, this achievement placed Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the history books, joining Lee Zii Jia as the only Malaysians to have won a Super 1000 title in the BWF World Tour era. Lee secured his title in the men’s singles category at the All England Open 2021.
Credit Photo : VICTOR Malaysia
