KUALA LUMPUR – National men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani’s gallant run at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China ended today in the final at the hands of home duo Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.
Buoyed by rousing home support, China’s world number three pair won 21-17, 15-21, 21-10 in 63 minutes.
Before the final, Malaysia’s 19th-ranked pair had embarked on a giant-killing spree, sending home reigning world champions Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae of South Korea in the first round.
Their second-round opponents, He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu of China, retired during the match, setting up a showdown against reigning Olympic Champions Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin of Chinese Taipei.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin won in three sets 19-21, 21-19, 21-19.
In the semi-finals, Sze Fei-Izzuddin then sent compatriots and 2022 world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik home in straight sets, 21-14, 21-18 yesterday.
This marks their first final of the year and the biggest one so far.
This is also the third time in a row that Malaysia has finished as runners-up in the men’s doubles category at the BAC, after Aaron-Wooi Yik lost in 2022, while Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi lost last year. – April 14, 2024