Defending champs Sze Fei-Izzuddin crash out of India Open

KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champions Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani's worrying slump continued after they were knocked out of the India Open in the second round by Taiwanese dangermen Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Poh Hsuan in New Delhi on Thursday.

World No. 7 Sze Fei-Izzuddin never fully found their rhythm and were outplayed by the world No. 15 Taiwanese pair, who sealed a 21-16, 10-21, 21-16 win in a 46-minute encounter to dethrone the Malaysians.

The early exit compounded their frustration after a similar second-round loss at last week's Malaysia Open, raising fresh concerns over their form following a strong finish to last season.

"They played better than us today, especially in the first three shots," said Izzuddin.

"We couldn't cope with that, and we gave away too many points on service and return in the first and third games."

It was Sze Fei-Izzuddin's third defeat in nine meetings against Lee-Yang.

The India Open was Sze Fei-Izzuddin's only title last year, a breakthrough victory that saw them topple South Korea's world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae in the final.

However, their performances have dipped since that triumph, while the Korean pair surged ahead to establish themselves as the most dominant force in men's doubles, winning a record 11 titles last season.

Sze Fei admitted the Malaysians failed to build momentum in India after an underwhelming start to the year.

"We wanted to perform better here, but we didn't," he said.

"A slow start is one of the areas we must fix."

The pair had enlisted former world No. 1 Koo Kien Keat's help during the Malaysia Open, but the short-term boost failed to spark a turnaround as they fell to England's Ben Lane-Sean Vendy in the second round.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin will now look to halt their slide at the Indonesia Masters from Jan 20-25, where they open their campaign against American world No. 31 Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith in Jakarta.