Kumamoto, Japan — Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani kept their hopes of qualifying for the BWF World Tour Finals 2025 alive after booking a spot in the semi-finals of the Kumamoto Masters with a gutsy three-game victory on Friday.
The world No. 4 duo outlasted Taiwan’s Lee Jhe Huei and Yang Po Hsuan 21–16, 10–21, 21–16 in a 46-minute thriller at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium.
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Goh and Izzuddin started strong, taking control of the opening game with sharp net play and well-timed smashes. However, they struggled to maintain their rhythm in the second game as their opponents pushed them into longer rallies. In the decider, the Malaysians regrouped and handled the pressure brilliantly, sealing the win with solid defense and tactical precision in the closing exchanges.
Race to Hangzhou Heats Up
This victory is crucial for Goh and Izzuddin, who must win the Kumamoto Masters title to keep their BWF World Tour Finals qualification hopes alive. The season-ending event — offering a total prize purse of US$3 million (RM12.4 million) — will be held in Hangzhou, China, from December 17–21.
Their path was slightly eased when compatriots Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun suffered an early exit earlier this week, giving Goh and Izzuddin a chance to close the gap in the World Tour standings.
Malaysia has already secured one pair — Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, the world No. 2 team — for the Finals, meaning only one additional Malaysian pair can qualify. Goh and Izzuddin now have a clear shot at clinching that second ticket if they can continue their strong form in Kumamoto.
The duo will face Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita in Saturday’s semi-final. The Japanese pair advanced after defeating Wan Arif Junaidi and Yap Roy King 21–19, 21–14, ending hopes of an all-Malaysian semi-final clash.
Pearly Tan and Thinaah Continue Winning Momentum
Malaysia’s women’s doubles stars Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah also booked their place in the semi-finals with another confident performance, brushing aside Hsu Yin Hui and Lin Jhih Yun of Taiwan 21–13, 21–17 in just 35 minutes.
The world No. 2 pair — and top seeds in Kumamoto — extended their perfect record against the Taiwanese duo to 2–0, having also beaten them at the French Open last month.
This marks another strong run for Pearly and Thinaah, who have been in top form throughout the 2025 season. They’ve already captured titles at the Thailand Open and Arctic Open, and finished runners-up at the Indonesia Masters, Indonesia Open, and Japan Open.
In the semi-finals, they will face Japan’s home favorites Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto, a pair they have defeated in their last four meetings. Pearly and Thinaah lead their overall head-to-head 4–1, with their only loss coming at the 2024 edition of the Kumamoto Masters in the opening round.
Mixed Results for Malaysia in Other Categories
In women’s singles, rising Malaysian star Wong Ling Ching saw her remarkable run come to an end after losing to Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon 17–21, 9–21. Despite the defeat, the 21-year-old can take pride in her impressive second-round win over world No. 15 Michelle Li, signaling her steady growth on the international stage.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s other men’s doubles representatives Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal Nazri bowed out in the quarterfinals after losing to Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan 16–21, 16–21.
With both Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin and Pearly Tan/M. Thinaah advancing to the semi-finals, Malaysia remains firmly in contention for silverware at the 2025 Kumamoto Masters. As the battle for BWF World Tour Finals qualification intensifies, all eyes will be on the Malaysian pairs to see if they can turn their strong performances into a winning finish this weekend.
