Tough fight: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin beat Taiwan’s Lee Fang-chih-Lee Fang-jen in the first round.
PETALING JAYA: Amid speculation that Chin Eei Hui could become newly turned independent men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani’s coach, the duo survived a huge scare before reaching the second round of the Hong Kong Open.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who were competing in their first tournament since leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), were pushed hard all the way by Taiwan’s Lee Fang-chih-Lee Fang-jen before holding on to narrowly win 21-17, 15-21, 24-22 in a thrilling 60-minute match at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Kowloon yesterday.
It will not be getting any easier for the world No. 12 pair as they take on Indonesia’s Shohibul Fikri-Daniel Marthin next for a place in the quarter-final.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin are Malaysia’s higher ranked men’s doubles pair in the competition in the absence of world No. 5 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin have joined independent coach Rosman Razak’s training set up but could rope in Eei Hui as their new coach.
This is after Eei Hui signed up with the same sponsor as the pair, Victor.
The former national women’s doubles player guided independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi before moving to New Zealand in the beginning of last year to coach the North Habour club in Auckland.
It remains to be seen if Eei Hui will leave her current position and return to Malaysia to guide Sze Fei-Izzuddin.
Meanwhile, national pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun joined Sze Fei-Izzuddin in the second round after coming from behind to beat teammates Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi 15-21, 21-8, 21-11.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun will face China’s Xie Haonan-Zeng Weihan in the second round.
Youngsters Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing face an uphill battle today in the first round against South Korea’s world champions Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae after beating Canada’s Lan Kan Kern-Larry Pong 21-12, 21-19 in the qualifying round.
Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee (women’s doubles), Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin and Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien (mixed doubles) will all open their campaigns today.
RESULTS
(Malaysians only)
Qualifying round
Men’s doubles: Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing bt Lan Kan Kern-Larry Pong (Can) 21-12, 21-19; Lim Tze Jian-Wong Tien Ci bt Chun Kar Lung-Raymond Webster (Eng) 2-0, ret.
First round
Men’s doubles: pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani bt Lee Fang-chih-Lee Fang-jen (Tpe) 21-17, 15-21, 24-22; Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun bt Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi 15-21, 21-8, 21-11; Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub bt Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard (Den) 21-15, 21-23, 21-19.
