Bernama reported that Sze Fei-Izzuddin, having amassed 91,090 points, climbed one position to take over the top spot from Danes Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (90,411 points), who failed to defend their title at the recently concluded Malaysia Masters.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin are the first Malaysian men’s doubles pair to be ranked number one in the world since Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in 2016.

They join an elite list of former national greats who achieved the feat, including Razif Sidek-Jalani Sidek, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, and Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin clinched the India Open crown in January, but their performance subsequently faltered and they failed to reach the semi-finals of any of the tournaments they competed in after that.

They will be in action in the May 27-June 1 Singapore Open, beginning their campaign against Taiwan’s Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen tomorrow.

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik remained in the third spot in the world ranking, while newly crowned Malaysia Masters champions Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun moved up one rung to seventh position.