ODENSE: The good run of men doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani came to an end in the Denmark Open.
A week after a superb run that saw them winning the Arctic Open in Finland last week, the duo were unable to lift their game as they went down 13-21, 13-21 to Thailand's Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavanarukroh in the first round at the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense on Wednesday (Oct 16).
The defeat ended their fine run over the last three months where they had also captured the China Open in September and Japan Open in August.
Naturally, both of them were disappointed.
"The Thais played really well today. We could not extend our form from Arctic Open to here," said Sze Fei.
Izzuddin said: "We will go back home, review this defeat and get ready for the Kumamoto Masters in Japan."
The challenge also ended for Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi as they went down 18-21, 8-21 to Ben Lane-Sean Vendy of England in the first round.
Meanwhile, Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Yap Roy King saved Malaysia the blushes on Wednesday by winning the opening match against Kevin Lee-Ty Alexander Lindeman of Canada. They won 21-16, 21-11.
Said Arif: "We did not take our opponents lightly although they were ranked lower than us. We gave equal time to study them. We came prepared and glad that we won."
They will play the winners of the match between second seeds Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark and the Popov brothers - Toma Junior and Christo of France.