Malaysian badminton duo Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani endured a heartbreaking conclusion to their Japan Open 2025 campaign, suffering a double setback: not only did they miss out on defending their title, but they are also set to lose their coveted World No. 1 ranking.
In the much-anticipated men’s doubles final held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, the top-seeded Malaysians were defeated in straight sets by the in-form South Korean pair Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho. The scoreline of 16-21, 17-21 reflected the intense and fast-paced nature of the match, which wrapped up in just 38 minutes.
This defeat marks a turning point in the global rankings, with Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho—currently ranked No. 3—poised to take over as the new World No. 1 pair once the Badminton World Federation (BWF) updates the official standings.
Struggle to Defend the Crown
Sze Fei and Izzuddin entered the final with hopes of making history by becoming the first Malaysian men’s doubles pair to win the Japan Open twice. However, their dreams were dashed by the relentless speed and coordination of the Korean duo, who were clearly the dominant force on court.
Speaking to the BWF after the match, Sze Fei acknowledged their opponents’ superiority, saying,
“The Koreans played at an incredible pace. We tried to keep up, but they were just too strong today.”
He added,
“We didn’t feel pressure to prove anything. Our goal was to play our best and enjoy the game, but sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.”
Past Encounters and Growing Rivalry
This latest defeat is the second loss for the Malaysians in three meetings against Seo and Kim. They previously fell to the Koreans in the second round of the All-England Open back in March. Their only win against the Korean pair came in January during the Indian Open final, where Sze Fei-Izzuddin lifted the trophy.
The South Korean tandem, however, have been on an unstoppable run throughout 2025. With their recent Japan Open victory, they have now claimed five major titles this season—including the All-England, Malaysia Open, German Open, and Indonesian Open—establishing themselves as the most formidable duo on the circuit.
For Seo Seung-jae, the victory also carried personal significance. The 27-year-old avenged his defeat from the 2024 Japan Open final, where he and his former partner, Kang Min-hyuk, lost to the Malaysians.
A Silver Lining and Eyes on Redemption
Despite the loss, Sze Fei and Izzuddin can take pride in their performance. This final marks their first title match appearance since their Indian Open win, a notable improvement after failing to reach even the semifinals in the tournaments that followed.
The duo now turn their attention to the China Open, which kicks off tomorrow in Changzhou. Determined to bounce back, they are aiming not only to defend their China Open title but also to regain their lost World No. 1 ranking from Seo and Kim.
Looking ahead with optimism, Izzuddin shared,
“We’ll take this experience and prepare even better for the next tournament. Our focus now is to keep improving and stay mentally strong.”
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