PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani’s trip to Europe has come to an end after they withdrew from the Hylo Open which begins in Saarbrucken, Germany, today.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, the World No. 10, were hoping to gain sufficient points to qualify for the World Tour Finals but that objective has been abandoned after the duo’s poor form in the Denmark and French Opens.
Doubles coach Tan Bin Shen confirmed their withdrawal yesterday and said the pair will return home to focus on regaining their form to perform well on the international stage next year.
“The World Tour Finals is not the priority but I am more concerned with Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s current form. They did not perform well in Denmark and France and skipping the Hylo Open is the best option,” said Bin Shen.
“The main objective is to improve and fight for the Olympic spot for the Paris Olympics.”
Sze Fei-Izzuddin won the German Open in March but have not been able to rediscover that form.
In the Denmark Open in Odense, Sze Fei-Izzuddin lost to Taiwan scratch pair Lee Yang-Lu Chen in the first round and fell to Indonesians Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana in the second round of the French Open in Paris.
Also out are Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun who fell in the preliminary rounds of both tournaments. Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See have also withdrawn from the tournament.
With Yew Sin-Ee Yi not competing in the men’s doubles of the Hylo Open, the focus will shift on the men’s singles where Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) shuttler Ng Tze Yong will be trying to make amends after his quarter-final exit in the Indonesia Masters in Malang last month.
Tze Yong, in search of his first world tour title, was the top seed in Malang but lost to eventual runner-up Cheam June Wei.
Tze Yong will be playing Lee Shifeng of China in the first round while independent shuttler Liew Daren will be up against top seed Anders Antonsen of Denmark in his opening match.
Second seed Lee Zii Jia had withdrawn earlier from the Hylo Open to return home due to personal commitments.
French Open champions Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will also be fired up to continue their success in Saarbrucken but it will depend on how well they have recovered from their triumphant run in Paris. They are due to play Deborah Jille-Cheryl Seinen of Holland in the first round.
