KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 9 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani kept themselves firmly in contention for a first title in 12 months after advancing into the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Masters on Thursday.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin fought back to beat Taiwan’s world No. 21 Liu Kuang Heng-Yang Po Han 17-21, 21-14, 21-16 at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, extending their perfect record against the Taiwanese pair to four wins from four meetings.
The Malaysian duo will now be eyeing a breakthrough at the Super 500 tournament, having previously stalled at the last-eight stage in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The path to the final has opened up in the upper half of the draw, with Sze Fei-Izzuddin emerging as the highest-seeded pair remaining. They will next face South Korean youngsters Cho Song Hyun-Lee Jong Min, who stunned seventh seeds Ben Lane-Sean Vendy of England 21-16, 21-15.
Should they progress, Sze Fei-Izzuddin would head into the semi-finals as favourites, with a likely match-up against either Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard or the Malaysia-South Korea veteran combination of Goh V Shem-Choi Sol Gyu.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin last lifted a title at the India Open in January last year and are keen to regain momentum after slipping out of the world’s top eight in the latest rankings.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
