Smashing show as Sze Fei-Izzuddin lift German Open title

Proud moment: Goh Sze Fei (right) and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani standing tall after winning the men's doubles title in the German Open.

PETALING JAYA: A long wait for a first big title has finally ended for men's doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.

The world No. 17 Sze Fei-Izzuddin fought tooth and nail for one hour and 10 minutes to beat China's Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi 23-21, 16-21, 21-14 in the final of the German Open in Mulheim on Sunday.

It's only their second final appearance in a higher-tiered tournament after the Malaysian Masters in Sibu in 2017 but this time, they ended with a strong finish.

Despite continuous pressure from their opponents, the Malaysians stood solid to smash their way to their first title in five years. Their last victory was at the lower-ranked Malaysian International Challenge in 2017.

Thailand swept two titles through Kunlavut Vitidsarn (men's singles) and Dechapol Puavaranukroh-T. Sapsiree (mixed doubles) while China continued to show their dominance in the women's events by winning via He Bingjiao (singles) and Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (doubles).

FINAL RESULTS

Men's singles: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) bt Lakshya Sen (Ind) 21-18, 21-15.

Men's doubles: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (Mas) bt Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi (Chn) 23-21, 16-21, 21-14.

Women's singles: He Bingjiao (Chn) bt Chen Yufei (Chn) 21-14, 27-25.

Women's doubles: Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn) bt Gabriela Stoeva-Stefani Stoeva (Bul) 21-16, 29-30, 21-19.

Mixed doubles: Dechapol Puavaranukroh-T. Sapsiree (Tha) bt Ou Xuanyi-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) 21-11, 21-9.