Big surprise: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have withdrawn from the Arctic Open.
PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are set to slip further behind in the race to qualify for the World Tour Finals after pulling out of the Arctic Open.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who are currently ninth in the Race to Finals ranking, needed a positive result in the Arctic tourney to reignite their chances of making the cut for the prestigious season ending Tour Finals from Dec 17-21 in Hangzhou.
The independent pair, though, have surprisingly withdrawn from the competition at the eleventh hour, putting their hopes of competing in Hangzhou at risk.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who captured the title last year, played in the Badminton-XL invitational event in Jakarta which ended on Sunday but the Badminton World Federation (BWF) listed them as among the names that have withdrawn from the tournament which started yesterday in Vantaa, Finland.
The world No. 3 duo have not released any statements on their reason to pull out of the event while independent coach Teo Kok Siang also remained mum when contacted.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s decision to withdraw from the competition has raised fears that one or both of them sustained injuries while playing in Jakarta.
The pair’s participation in the Denmark Open which starts next Tuesday is now in doubt.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin now face a tough task to qualify for the Tour Finals as only the top eight pairs in the Race to Finals ranking can earn a spot.
The duo also need to overtake fellow Malaysians Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who are currently fourth, to make the cut as a country is only allowed a maximum of two representatives in the event.
National No. 1 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are the other pair in the running to qualify as they are sitting comfortably in second place at the moment.
Missing out on the Tour Finals will be a blow to Sze Fei-Izzuddin after they enjoyed a memorable debut last year, finishing runners-up to Denmark’s Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.
Meanwhile, Wei Chong-Kai Wun are also not guaranteed a place in the tournament yet after they were forced to withdraw from the Arctic and Denmark Opens due to the latter suffering a calf injury.
Kai Wun is now facing a race against time to recover and return in time for the French Open from Oct 21-26.
In the absence of the two pairs, Malaysia will be represented in the men’s doubles in Finland by Aaron-Wooi Yik, Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian and Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, who are the top seeds, will open their campaign today against Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard while Roy King-Arif will play a qualifier.
For Haikal-Hon Jian, China’s Huang Di-Liu Yang stand in their way while Hang Yee-Eng Cheong need to get past another qualifier.
