KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Malaysia’s doubles shuttlers showed stellar performances at the Japan Open as four pairs fought their way into the semi-finals today.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani displayed tremendous fighting spirit and defeated Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in 59 minutes at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
In today’s intense quarter-final, world No.1 Sze Fei-Izzuddin clinched a 21-13, 17-21, 22-20 victory in their first meeting against the Indonesian duo.
They will face Taiwan’s Liu Kuang Heng-Yang Po Han next for a place in the final. The Malaysians beat Kuang Heng-Po Han at the same tournament last year.
Earlier, Kuang Heng-Po Han overcame another Malaysian pair Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong 18-21, 25-23, 21-17.
Malaysian men’s pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also pulled off an upset by defeating the tournament’s Chinese fifth seeds Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang 25-23, 21-19 in just 41 minutes.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi will take on South Korea’s Kim Won Ho-Seo Seong Jae, who earlier eliminated another Malaysian pair, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, 21-13, 18-21, 21-13.
In the women’s doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah continued their magnificent momentum by beating South Korea’s Jeong Na Eun-Lee Yeon Woo 21-15, 21-19 — their third win over the pair.
The tournament’s third seeds now face a daunting task in the semi-finals against home favourites Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida, who have defeated them in 13 of their 14 past encounters.
Meanwhile, national mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei advanced to the semi-finals with a convincing 21-14, 21-12 win over Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara in 32 minutes.
Fourth-seeded Tang Jie-Ee Wei will next face China’s world No.2 Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin, who eliminated Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-13, 23-21.
This will be the fourth meeting between the pairs, with Tang Jie-Ee Wei having lost their most recent clash in the quarter-finals of the same tournament in 2024.
— Bernama
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