Malaysian professional men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rusmani saw their Thailand Open campaign come to a heartbreaking end after falling to India’s top seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in a thrilling semi-final clash at the Nimibutr Stadium, Bangkok.
The Malaysian duo, currently among the world’s elite pairs, pushed the Indian combination to the limit before eventually succumbing 21-19, 20-22, 16-21 in an intense 80-minute battle that showcased high-quality badminton from both sides.
Coming into the match with strong momentum following impressive performances throughout the week, Sze Fei-Izzuddin started confidently and looked sharp from the opening exchanges. Their aggressive front-court play and quick transitions allowed them to dictate the pace early on, earning a deserved 21-19 victory in the opening game.
The second set, however, proved to be the turning point of the contest.
Despite trailing for large periods, the Malaysian pair showed tremendous fighting spirit to claw their way back into contention and even came close to sealing a straight-sets victory. Unfortunately, several crucial points slipped away at key moments, allowing Rankireddy-Shetty to edge the game 22-20 and force a decider.
With momentum shifting firmly in favour of the Indian pair, the deciding set saw the world No. 4 duo raise their intensity even further. Satwiksairaj and Chirag controlled the rallies with powerful smashes and relentless attacking pressure, forcing the Malaysians onto the defensive.
Although Sze Fei and Izzuddin continued to battle bravely and attempted to close the gap late in the match, the Indian pair maintained their composure to seal the deciding set 21-16 and book their place in the final.
The result also extended Rankireddy-Shetty’s dominant head-to-head record over the Malaysians to 8-2, underlining the challenge faced by the national representatives whenever they meet the formidable Indian combination.
Nevertheless, the Thailand Open campaign can still be viewed positively for Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who once again demonstrated their consistency at the highest level of international badminton.
The pair arrived in Bangkok aiming for a second title of the season following their triumphant run at the Indonesia Masters in January, and their semi-final finish further strengthens their preparations ahead of another crucial assignment on home soil.
Attention now shifts to the upcoming Malaysia Masters, which begins on Tuesday, where the Malaysian duo will look to bounce back strongly in front of their home supporters.
They are scheduled to open their campaign against Indonesia’s Muh Putra Erwiansyah and Bagas Maulana in what promises to be another challenging first-round encounter for the in-form Malaysian pair.
Credit Photo : Kenny Teng/BERNAMA
