Defending champs Sze Fei-Izzuddin survive scare to advance at India Open

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 7 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani launched their India Open title defence in unconvincing fashion after being taken the distance in their opening match on Wednesday.

The Malaysians were forced to dig deep before overcoming veteran cross-national pairing Goh V Shem-Choi Sol Gyu 19-21, 21-16, 21-10 to book a place in the last 16, where another stern test awaits.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin will next face either England's Ben Lane-Sean Vendy, semi-finalists at last week's Malaysia Open, or Taiwan's Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan.

The defending champions are keen to respond after a disappointing start to the season in Kuala Lumpur last week, where they were knocked out in the last 16 by Lane-Vendy.

With ranking points at stake, Sze Fei-Izzuddin are under pressure to deliver this week, as another early exit could loosen their grip on a place inside the world's top eight.

The pair, who climbed to a career-best world No. 1 in July last year, have struggled for consistency since and have gradually slipped to their current position.

Meanwhile, two other Malaysian pairs bowed out of the tournament.

World No. 17 Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King suffered a painful defeat to Japan's world No. 35 Takumi Nomura-Yuichi Shimogami, going down 26-28, 21-18, 22-20 despite holding two match points at 20-18 in the decider.

The loss denied Arif-Roy King an all-Malaysian last-16 clash with seniors Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who had earlier advanced at the expense of junior pair Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing.

World No. 44 professional pair Lwi Sheng Hao-Chia Wei Jie also exited early, failing to capitalise on their rare Super 750 appearance after losing 21-18, 21-15 to Japan's Kyohei Yamashita-Hiroki Midorikawa.