'Stopped Again': Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho Miss Out on Title for Second Straight Time After Revenge Bid Fails

South Korea's top-ranked men's doubles pair, Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho, faced disappointment at the China Open, falling in the final match. The duo, representing Samsung Life Insurance, were aiming to secure the Super 1000 title but were defeated by the Indonesian pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, who are ranked world No. 2.

The match, held at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Changzhou, saw Seo and Kim lose in three games with a score of 1-2 (21-16, 19-21, 17-21). This defeat marks the second consecutive major final where the Korean pair has been unable to clinch the championship title.

Having previously lost to the same Indonesian opponents in another final, Seo and Kim were hoping to exact revenge and reclaim their winning form. Despite a strong start, winning the first game, they were unable to maintain their momentum against the resilient Indonesian duo.

The loss is a significant setback for Seo and Kim, who have dominated the men's doubles circuit for much of the season. Their quest for another major title continues, with this result highlighting the intense competition they face from their international rivals.