KUCHING: National professional shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin overcame an early scare to reach the Japan Open Round of 16 after rallying past China’s Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi in straight games on Tuesday (July 14).
The world No. 7 pair produced a spirited fightback to snatch the opening game 22-20 before wrapping up a 21-18 victory in a 37-minute opening-round clash at the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament in Tokyo.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin looked destined to drop the first game after falling behind at the business end but clawed their way back to steal the opener before carrying the momentum into the second to complete the straight-games win.
The independent duo were joined in the last 16 by Leong Jun Hao, who earlier upset world No. 19 Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei 21-19, 21-16 in the men’s singles.
It was, however, a disappointing day for the rest of the Malaysian contingent.
Newly formed mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Clarissa San saw their debut end in a 21-16, 21-18 defeat to Chinese Taipei’s Yang Po-Hsuan-Hu Ling Fang, while Sarawak’s Wong Ling Ching bowed out after a 21-14, 21-11 loss to former world champion P.V. Sindhu of India.
Women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan–Thinaah Muralitharan were eliminated despite taking the opening game, falling 9-21, 21-17, 21-17 to Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Yin Hui-Lin Jhih Yun.
Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee also exited after a 21-12, 21-18 defeat to South Korea’s world No. 3 pair Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee.
In the men’s doubles, Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King pushed USA’s Chen Zhe Yi-Presley Smith the distance before losing 26-24, 15-21, 21-18, while mixed doubles pair Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien went down 21-13, 21-18 to China’s world No. 6 Guo Xin Wa-Chen Fang Hui.
