PETALING JAYA: National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky, concerned with the performance of Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, will have a heart-to-heart talk with the pair regarding their future after returning from the ongoing Indian Open in New Delhi.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin have lost in the first or second round in the last eight tournaments, including the Indian Open, since reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 Malaysian Open last June.
They lost to young Chinese pair Ren Xiangyu-Tan Qiang 21-19, 21-17 in the first round on Tuesday and they also lost to another China pair Liang Weikeng-Wang Chan in the first round of the Malaysian Open last week.
Weikeng-Wang Chang finished runners-up to Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto of Indonesia at the Axiata Arena on Sunday.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin showed plenty of promise after winning the German Open last year but have not been able to raise the bar after that.
“We will talk to them when we return to Kuala Lumpur. Let’s see if we need to stick to them as a pair or try them out with other young players,” said Rexy.
“Sze Fei-Izzuddin will not be playing in the Indonesia Masters (next week). I will have the time to speak to them and weigh the options.”
Sze Fei-Izzuddin were seeded seventh for the Indonesian Masters and were supposed to play another young China pair He Jiting-Zhou Haodong in the first round in Jakarta.
Pulling them out from the tournament is probably a wise decision as another defeat to a third China pair may further affect Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s confidence.
Meanwhile, world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik took advantage of an all-Malaysia clash against Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun to reach the second round of the Indian Open yesterday.
Aaron-Wooi Yik defeated Wei Chong-Kai Wun 23-21, 21-10 in the first round and will meet Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huey-Yang Po-hsuan in the second round today.
Having beaten Jhe-huey-Po-hsuan in the first round of the Malaysian Open last week, Aaron-Wooi Yik should be confident of claiming a spot in the quarter-finals when they play the Taiwan rivals again.
“Hope they (Aaron-Wooi Yik) have learnt how to beat the Taiwan pair during the Malaysian Open. They need to play their game and not relax until the match is over,” added Rexy.
In other first-round matches yesterday, independent doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi advanced to the men’s doubles second round when they defeated Akira Koga-Taichi Saito of Japan 21-15, 21-15 yesterday.In the mixed doubles, independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie continued their winless run against world No. 1 Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong of China 21-11, 21-7 in the first round.
Soon Huat-Shevon lost to the same pair in the second round of the Malaysian Open.
In women’s doubles, French Open champions and Commonwealth Games gold medallists, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah defeated India’s Ashwini Bhat-Shikha Gautam 21-8, 21-11 in their opening match and will meet Lee Chia-hsin-Teng Chun-hsun of Taiwan in the second round today.
However, independent pair Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien fell in the first round to Li Wenmei-Liu Xuanxuan of China 16-21, 9-21.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
(Malaysians unless stated)
Men’s singles: Li Shifeng (Chn) bt Ng Tze Yong 21-19, 21-14; Lee Zii Jia bt Shesar Hiren (Ina) 20-22, 21-19, 21-12; Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (Den) bt Liew Daren 11-9, retired.
Men’s doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bt Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 23-21, 21-10; Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi bt Akira Koga-Taichi Saito (Jpn) 21-15, 21-15.
Women’s doubles: Li Wenmei-Liu Xuanxuan (Chn) bt Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien 21-16, 21-9; Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bt Ashwini Bhat-Shikha Gautam (Ind) 21-8, 21-11.
Mixed doubles: Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) bt Goh Soo Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-11, 21-7.
