KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani lived dangerously today before overcoming the dogged Malaysian-South Korean combination of Goh V Shem–Choi Sol Gyu to drag themselves into the Australia Open semi-finals.
The scars of a long season were evident as the jaded world No. 4 duo overcame V Shem–Sol Gyu 21-13, 20-22, 22-20 in a tightly contested 69-minute last eight clash at the Sydney Olympic Park.
Veterans V Shem–Sol Gyu, partnering each other as they are under the same equipment sponsors, Felet, almost turned back the clock when they battled from 19-20 in the second game to win 22-20 and force the decider.
V Shem, 36, and Sol Gyu, 30, almost produced a famous win as they saved two match points at 20-18 in the third game before Sze Fei–Izzuddin closed the match 22-20.
Malaysian V Shem, the 2016 Olympics silver medallist with Tan Wee Kiong, and Sol Gyu, who partnered two-time world champion Seo Seung Jae previously, had upstaged Malaysian world No. 18 Wan Arif Junaidi–Yap Roy King in the last-16 on Thursday.
“Today’s match was intense. Good luck for tomorrow, Sze Fei and Izzuddin,” posted Sol Gyu on his Instagram.
The close victory was also a wake-up call for Sze Fei–Izzuddin before their semi-final showdown with Indonesian giantkillers Raymond Indra–Nikolaus Joaquin.
World No. 32 Raymond–Nikolaus showed their pedigree by stunning world No. 5 Man Wei Chong–Tee Kai Wun 21-15, 19-21, 21-15 in 58 minutes.
The Malaysian pair’s defeat could be due to Kai Wun’s left calf tear, which has not fully healed, but Raymond–Nikolaus’ emergence in men’s doubles cannot be denied. Besides winning five International Challenge/Series titles this year, they also finished runners-up at the Korea Masters two weeks ago.
However, Sze Fei–Izzuddin will be determined to finish the year with the Australian Open title after the disappointment of being pipped by Wei Chong–Kai Wun for a spot in next month’s World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
