High and low in Europe
● National men’s doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani vowed to keep their fire burning after stunning China’s world No. 8 Han Chengkai-Zhou Haodong 21-16, 17-21, 21-16 to reach the second round of the German Open. ● An early fall hurt Azizu
PETALING JAYA: National men’s doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are determined to keep the fire burning after pulling off a stunner to reach the last eight of the German Open in Mulheim.
The youngsters were in their element to pack off China’s world No. 8 Han Chengkai-Zhou Haodong 21-16, 17-21, 21-16 in the second round yesterday. It’s their biggest career win, beating a world top 10 pair for the first time.
It also marks the pair’s third straight quarter-final appearance having reached the semi-finals of the Thailand Masters last month and last eight at the Spanish Masters last week.
For the world No. 50 pair, it was another brilliant performance after giving Danish pair and London 2012 Olympic silver medallists Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen a run for their money before going down fighting 22-20, 18-21, 19-21 in a 78-minute thriller in the quarter-finals of the Spanish Masters.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin will face off with national teammates Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik for a place in the last four.
World No. 19 Aaron-Wooi Yik reached the quarter-finals with a 21-17, 21-17 victory over Jelle Maas-Robin Tabeling of Holland.
National men’s doubles head coach Paulus Firman wants the young pair to stay hungry for success.
“We’re working on Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s weaknesses, we know where they need to improve and make changes. Now it’s starting to show,” said Paulus.
“When I joined the team last year, they were suffering first-round exits. Since then, we’ve tried to find a solution. I’m happy with their performances. They’re on the right track but I hope they can stay consistent,” said Paulus.
“I didn’t expect them to get this far (at the German Open) as I only told them to be confident and show their abilities.
“But the most important thing is they stay hungry for more.”
There were more good news in the men’s doubles as national No. 2 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also advanced into the next round with a 21-12, 23-21 win over homesters Mark Lamsfuss-Marvin Seidel. They have a tough task next against second seeds Hiroyuki Endo-Yuta Watanabe of Japan.
Meanwhile, men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia continued his strong run by defeating fifth seed Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong 21-19, 12-21, 21-16 for his fourth consecutive quarter-final berth.
He’ll have his hands full when he plays world No. 3 Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan for a place in the semi-final. They have met three times with the Malaysian surviving the last two encounters.
Soong Joo Ven also kept up his fine run to reach the last eight – setting up a meeting with Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus – after defeating Taiwan’s Lu Chia-hung 12-16, 10-21, 21-13 in the second round.
Goh Jin Wei (women’s singles) and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (mixed doubles) also marched into the last eight.
Jin Wei faces a tricky match against Zhang Biewen of the United States while fifth seeds Soon Huat-Shevon take on fourth seeds He JitingDu Yue of China for places in the semi-finals.
Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean could have made it a perfect day for Malaysia but they bowed out in the second round.