KUALA LUMPUR: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun are still searching for a winning formula against Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani after their Indonesian rivals once again denied them, ending their title defence at the Indonesia Masters on Friday.
The world No. 6 Malaysians went down 22-20, 21-19 to world No. 7 Sabar-Reza, extending their woes to six defeats in seven meetings between the two pairs.
The loss followed a familiar script. Just last month, Wei Chong-Kai Wun were beaten twice by the Indonesians — in the semi-finals of the SEA Games, which Sabar-Reza went on to win, and again in the group stage of the World Tour Finals.
With Wei Chong-Kai Wun out of contention, Malaysia’s hopes of retaining the title now rest on independent duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
World No. 9 Sze Fei-Izzuddin earlier sealed their semi-final berth with a commanding 21-17, 21-13 win over South Korea‘s young pairing Cho Song Hyun-Lee Jong Min.
They will next face Denmark’s world No. 28 Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard in a bid to reach their first final since the Japan Open in July last year.
Despite their higher ranking, Sze Fei-Izzuddin know they cannot afford complacency, with the head-to-head record against the Danes evenly poised at 2-2.
Still, the Malaysians will draw confidence from their recent straight-games win over Lundgaard-Vestergaard at the Malaysia Open two weeks ago.
However, with the stakes considerably higher this time, and the Danes also eyeing their maiden Super 500 final, Sze Fei-Izzuddin will need to be at their sharpest.
Lundgaard-Vestergaard earned their place in the last four after grinding out a 15-21, 22-20, 21-14 victory over the Malaysia-South Korea combination of Goh V Shem-Choi Sol Gyu.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
