KUALA LUMPUR: It was a record-breaking day for Malaysia at the Indonesia Masters, as men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani completed a career-saving victory to seal the nation’s first-ever haul of three titles at a higher-tier World Tour event.
The former world No. 1 ended a 12-month title drought with a clinical 21-19, 21-13 win in just 37 minutes against Indonesia’s Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin at Jakarta’s Istora Senayan on Sunday.
Earlier, Malaysia had already secured the women’s doubles and mixed doubles crowns, thanks to Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei.
The feat echoes a similar triumph in 2009, before the World Tour era, when Lee Chong Wei, Wong Mew Choo and Wong Pei Tty-Chin Ee Wei each lifted titles at the Super Series Finals.
Sze Fei said: “I felt the pressure playing here against the Istora Senayan crowd. It was an amazing experience — thank you for your support.”
Izzuddin added: “We’ve been struggling with our performance for some time. This win is a big boost for our confidence.”
The victory marked world No. 9 Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s ninth World Tour title and could prove career-defining, helping them stay in the top 10 rankings in the coming weeks.
Hosts Indonesia were not left empty-handed. Rising star Alwi Farhan stormed to the men’s singles crown, thrashing Thailand’s Panitchapon Teeraratsakul 21-5, 21-6 in just 25 minutes. Meanwhile, China‘s Chen Yu Fei capitalised on the absence of top contenders, beating Thailand’s Pitchamon Opatniputh 23-21, 21-13 to claim the women’s singles title.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
