GOH Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are now Malaysia’s last hope for gold in the men’s doubles at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games following the exit of Aaron Chia-Tee Kai Wun.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin showed they are in good shape after beating former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan 21-19, 21-16 in the second round at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium yesterday.
They are now just one win away from a medal, but standing between them and a place in the semi-finals today are China’s Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang.
It will not be an easy task as Sze Fei-Izzuddin have lost three of their four previous meetings against the reigning world champions.
Still, their win over Hoki-Kobayashi should give them some confidence as they continue their bid for gold after missing the previous Asian Games.
Aaron-Kai Wun, meanwhile, saw their campaign end after losing 19-21, 16-21 to defending champions Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae of South Korea yesterday.
The Malaysians gave the Koreans a good fight but could not find a way past them.
It was also the end of Aaron’s hopes of winning another Asian Games medal after taking bronze with Soh Wooi Yik at Hangzhou 2022.
In the men’s singles, Justin Hoh’s campaign ended in the third round after he lost 14-21, 14-21 to former world champion Loh Kean Yew.
Justin had to play twice in one day, having earlier beaten Bangladesh’s Gourab Singha 21-8, 21-7 in the morning.
Leong Jun Hao, who eased past Mongolia’s Batdavaa Munkhbat 21-11, 21-14, will take on Alwi Farhan in the third round.
National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, however, did not see the schedule as an issue, saying the players had already been prepared for such situations before arriving in Japan.
“All multi-sport events are different and it is the same for all players, which means you have to adapt to these changes.
“We knew about it before the tournament and prepared for it as well,” said Jonassen.
