Jakarta: Malaysia’s professional men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani produced a confident performance to reach the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Open on Thursday.
The world No. 8 pair ended their winless run against England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy with a convincing 21-11, 21-13 victory in the second round at Istora Senayan.
It was an important result for Sze Fei and Izzuddin, who had lost their previous two meetings against the English pair at the 2026 Malaysia Open and the 2025 Denmark Open. This time, the Malaysians looked sharper from the start, controlling the pace and giving Lane and Vendy very little room to settle into the match.
With stronger front-court pressure and cleaner attacking combinations, Sze Fei and Izzuddin took command early and never allowed the match to become complicated. Their straight-game win sends them into the last eight of the Super 1000 tournament.
They will next face India’s world No. 30 pair Hariharan Amsakarunan and M. R. Arjun, who came from behind to beat Malaysia’s Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai 16-21, 21-15, 21-19.
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Beat Indonesian Pair to Enter Last Eight
Malaysia also had something to celebrate in mixed doubles as Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai continued their strong run by reaching the Indonesia Open quarterfinals.
The world No. 12 pair defeated Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah and Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu 21-15, 21-19 in 41 minutes, silencing a lively home crowd in Jakarta.
The win was especially meaningful for Soon Huat and Shevon because it was their first victory over the Indonesian pair after losing their previous three meetings. Against opponents backed by thousands of local fans, the Malaysians stayed composed and handled the pressure well.
Soon Huat said they were able to control the rhythm of the match and adjust to the court conditions more effectively as the contest progressed.
The Malaysian pair will face France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue next for a place in the semifinals.
K Letshanaa Falls to Akane Yamaguchi
Malaysia’s women’s singles campaign ended in the second round after K. Letshanaa was beaten by Japan’s third seed Akane Yamaguchi.
Letshanaa gave a solid fight against the former world champion but eventually lost 15-21, 18-21 in 39 minutes.
Despite the defeat, the match gave Letshanaa valuable experience against one of the most consistent players in women’s singles badminton. Her performance showed encouraging signs, especially in the second game, where she managed to stay close before Yamaguchi pulled away in the key moments.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik Suffer Early Exit
Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik were unable to extend their campaign after falling in the second round to Indonesia’s Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin.
The world No. 3 pair struggled to find their best form and lost 14-21, 14-21 to the world No. 12 Indonesian pair.
Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, Raymond and Nikolaus applied constant pressure and forced Aaron and Soh into uncomfortable positions throughout the match. The Malaysian second seeds were unable to build enough momentum in either game and had to settle for another second-round finish at the Indonesia Open.
The result matched Aaron and Soh’s performance at the 2024 edition of the tournament, where they also exited before the quarterfinals.
Leong Jun Hao Loses to Alex Lanier
Malaysia’s challenge in men’s singles also came to an end after Leong Jun Hao was beaten by France’s Alex Lanier in the second round.
Jun Hao, ranked No. 27 in the world, lost 16-21, 15-21 in 47 minutes to the world No. 8 Frenchman.
The defeat means Jun Hao is still searching for his first win over Lanier. He has now lost both of their career meetings, having also fallen to the French player in the second round of last year’s Japan Open.
Lanier, who arrived in Jakarta after winning the Singapore Open, carried his strong form into the match and showed why he has become one of the most dangerous young players in men’s singles badminton.
Mixed Results for Malaysia in Jakarta
It was a mixed day for Malaysia at the Indonesia Open, with Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai keeping the country’s hopes alive by reaching the quarterfinals.
However, the exits of Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Leong Jun Hao, K. Letshanaa, and Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai showed how demanding the Super 1000 tournament remains.
For Malaysian badminton fans, the focus now turns to the quarterfinals, where Sze Fei-Izzuddin and Soon Huat-Shevon will try to continue their run in Jakarta.
