Malaysia’s men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani ended their Japan Open 2025 campaign as runners-up after a tough straight-game loss to South Korea’s Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, who are now the sport’s hottest rising duo.
The Malaysians were unable to keep pace, going down 21-16, 21-17 in just 38 minutes in the final on Sunday. With this result, Malaysia ended the Super 750 tournament without a title, as Pearly Tan–Thinaah also lost in their final earlier in the day.
End of a Short Reign
This loss marks a significant shift in the world rankings. Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who rose to world No. 1 on May 27 following a string of strong performances, will now drop to No. 3 in the updated BWF rankings, with Kim/Seo taking over the top spot. Fellow Malaysians Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are set to move up to No. 2.
Despite the defeat, Sze Fei showed grace in accepting the result.
“They were just too fast and too good today. We gave our best and enjoyed the game,” said Sze Fei.
His partner Izzuddin echoed the sentiment, acknowledging they were overwhelmed by the Koreans’ speed and consistency.
“We tried to match their tempo, but they stayed ahead. Now it’s back to training — we must improve and come back stronger,” he said.
Time to Regroup for China Open 2025
Tokyo had previously been a turning point for Sze Fei-Izzuddin — last year, their victory here sparked a golden run that included titles at the China Open, Arctic Open, and India Open, eventually lifting them to the world No. 1 position. But with their brief eight-week reign now ending, the focus shifts to China Open 2025, where they return as defending champions.
Their coach Teo Kok Siang remained proud of their efforts
“We gave it our all this tournament. Credit to the players for their fighting spirit and commitment. We’ll work even harder for the next event,” he said.What’s Next?
As the Super 1000 China Open kicks off in Changzhou, Sze Fei-Izzuddin will aim to bounce back and defend their title, while newly crowned world No. 1s Kim/Seo begin their reign.
It’s shaping up to be another thrilling showdown — and Malaysian fans will be watching closely.