Sze Fei-Izzuddin poised to end 18-year drought at Indonesia Open

Malaysian badminton duo Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani are just one step away from ending an 18-year wait for a Malaysian champion at the Indonesia Open. The world No. 8 pair secured their spot in the final in Jakarta after a stunning upset victory in the semifinals.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin defeated the world's No. 1 pair, Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea, with a score of 21-18, 17-21, 21-16 in a 56-minute match at Istora Senayan. This win levels their head-to-head record against the Korean pair at 2-2. The last time a Malaysian pair won the Indonesia Open title was in 2008, with Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari.

The third-ranked Malaysian men's doubles pair will compete against a home team in the final. Their opponents will be either Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani or the junior pair Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin. If they face Sabar-Moh Reza, Sze Fei-Izzuddin have a 1-2 record against them, but victory is still considered possible. However, against Raymond-Nikolaus, their head-to-head record is tied at 1-1, with Sze Fei-Izzuddin having defeated them in the Indonesia Masters final in January.