Malaysia’s campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games men’s doubles badminton tournament concluded without a medal, extending a 20-year gold drought in the category after world No. 6 Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani suffered a straight-game defeat in the quarter-finals.
The pair fell 21-13, 21-11 to Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallists Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang of China at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium. The loss marks the end of Malaysia’s hopes in the men’s doubles draw at the current Asian Games, keeping the nation’s last title in the event rooted back to Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong’s victory at Doha 2006.
Quarter-Final Exit Against Olympic Silver Medallists
Facing the Chinese duo of Liang and Wang proved difficult from the opening exchanges. Sze Fei and Izzuddin failed to establish their rhythm, dropping the first game 21-13 before slipping further behind in a 21-11 second-game defeat.
Following the match, Sze Fei acknowledged that tactical hesitation and excessive caution hindered their execution. “I think we played with some hesitation today,” Sze Fei said. “In the second game, we were too defensive, and that is one of the things we need to improve.”
Izzuddin echoed those sentiments while emphasizing the broader perspective of their competitive journey. “Of course, there is disappointment, but we see this as a challenge for us to improve ourselves,” Izzuddin said. “There are still many titles that we have yet to win.”
The elimination of Sze Fei and Izzuddin followed the second-round exit of compatriots Aaron Chia and Tee Kai Wun, who fell a day earlier to world No. 1 Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea. At Hangzhou 2022, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik secured a bronze medal in the same event, but the Aichi-Nagoya campaign ultimately yielded no podium finishes for the Malaysian men’s doubles contingent.
Turning Focus to European World Tour Stops
Despite the Asian Games setback, Sze Fei and Izzuddin maintain a productive season as an independent pair, having captured the Super 500 Indonesia Masters and Super 1000 Indonesia Open titles alongside a runner-up finish at the Malaysia Masters.
Acknowledging the gap between their current level and the global elite, Izzuddin stressed the necessity of continued elevation in their play. The pair’s immediate attention shifts to the European leg of the World Tour, featuring the Denmark Open from October 13-18 and the French Open from October 20-25.
“We will focus on the upcoming tournaments first, which are Denmark and French Opens,” Izzuddin said, adding that the team environment and collective spirit experienced during the Asian Games provided valuable takeaways.
Related reading
