14/03/2022
BADMINTON 🏸
Sze Fei-Izzuddin claim breakthrough German Open crown
KUALA LUMPUR: National men's doubles Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have claimed their career breakthrough victory after winning the German Open in Mulheim on Sunday.
The world No 17 prevailed 23-21, 16-21, 21-14 against China's Ou Xuanyi-Liu Yuchen in a pulsating 70-minute final to lift their maiden World Tour title at the Westenergie Sporthalle.
With the triumph, Sze Fei-Izzuddin are now the first Malaysian pair to lift the German Open since Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in 1999.
More importantly, Sze Fei-Izzuddin can now feel that they are among the elite pairs in the world.
Since pairing up in 2016, the duo have not been able to live up to their potential with the runner-up finish in the 2017 Malaysian Masters, being their career-best result prior to this triumph.
They did start showing signs of revival, though, since last year by producing several commendable results, notably reaching the semi-finals of the Denmark Open en route to breaking into the world's top 20 for the first time.
Source: New Straits Times