Professional shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani. - AFP
PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have given Malaysian badminton a great start by capturing the Indian Open title in style.
World No. 2 Sze Fei-Izzuddin lived up to their ranking when they fought brilliantly to beat Malaysian Open champions Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho of South Korea 21-15, 13-21, 21-16 in a thrilling 53-minute final match at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi on Sunday (Jan 19).
The in-form Seung-jae-Won-ho had won all their matches since combining in the Malaysian tourney but the independent pair Sze Fei-Izzuddin brought out their A-game to end the Koreans' winning streak.
The duo ended a 15-year wait for a title in the men's doubles at the Indian Open as the last winners were Mohd Zakry Latif-Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari at the 2010 edition.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who train under former international Teo Kok Siang, have turned around their form superbly after suffering a first round exit in the home Open. Then, Izzuddin had been down with fever.
The pair's success comes as a boost for Malaysia after four other combos - Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men's doubles), Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women's doubles), Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (mixed doubles) had all lost in the semi-finals.
It was their fourth titles since August last year after they lifted the Japan Open, China Open and the Arctic Open. They also reached the final of the World Tour Finals in China last month.
