Malaysia’s men’s doubles pair, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, delivered a brilliant performance to book their spot in the 2025 India Open final after defeating home favorites and reigning 2022 Asian Games champions, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, in straight sets, 21-18, 21-14.
The electrifying semifinal match at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, New Delhi, on Saturday (Jan 18), lasted just 37 minutes, with Sze Fei-Izzuddin putting on a masterclass to outplay the Indian duo. It was a significant victory for the Malaysian pair, marking only their second win against the world-class Indian team in eight meetings.
On a day when four other Malaysian representatives faltered, Sze Fei-Izzuddin emerged as the nation’s beacon of hope. The men’s doubles pair of Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, women’s doubles stars Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, and mixed doubles duos Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie all bowed out in the semifinals.
This left Sze Fei-Izzuddin as Malaysia’s sole representatives to carry the nation’s aspirations into the final stage of the tournament.
Sze Fei expressed his excitement over their stellar performance, crediting the team’s composure and strategy for the win.
“We really enjoyed the atmosphere here. It was a great stadium,” he said in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“I tried to do my part well and create attacking chances for Izzuddin (and it worked). We just tried to play our best, and we knew they were under more pressure as they were playing at home.”
Izzuddin echoed Sze Fei’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and mental preparation.
“The key to our form is our communication, and we keep trying to improve. We don’t want to think too much about our opponents in the final but focus on preparing well mentally and physically,” he said.
Standing between Sze Fei-Izzuddin and their first title of the year are South Korea’s formidable pair and Malaysian Open 2025 champions, Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho. The Koreans edged Malaysia’s Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in a hard-fought semifinal clash, 22-20, 21-19, to secure their spot in the final.
The showdown on Sunday (Jan 19) promises to be an intense battle, with Sze Fei-Izzuddin aiming to cap off their remarkable run in the tournament by clinching the prestigious title.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
