PETALING JAYA: Recently-crowned Arctic Open champions Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were knocked out of the Kumamoto Masters championship in Japan by fellow countrymen Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong today.
Azriyn-Wee Kiong, the world No 40 men’s doubles pair, stunned Sze Fei-Izzuddin in straight games to advance to the quarter-finals.
They took only about 30 minutes to beat the world No 4 pair 21-9, 23-21.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin were a pale shadow of themselves as they were outplayed in the first game by their older compatriots. Their late rally in the second game was not enough to fend off defeat.
It was a shock exit for the pair who had won the Arctic, Japan, and China Opens in September and October.
Earlier, mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai also qualified for the quarter-finals after beating China’s Zhou Zhi Hong-Yang Jia Yi 21-19, 21-11.