India Open: Din/Fei’s Tribute to Daddies

With a performance that would have done their idols Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan proud, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin completed their conquest of the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2025.

The touch at the net and domination of the short, quick exchanges were very much in keeping with the Daddies’ style, and Goh and Izzuddin executed it to perfection, although, faced with the quality of Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, it was a hard-fought battle. The Koreans stretched the contest to a third but the Malaysians were right on the money when it mattered.

Goh Sze Fei & Nur Izzuddin

Incidentally, with Setiawan having timed his retirement for next week, the Malaysians paid tribute to their icon.

“Our idols are Hendra and Ahsan. We have consciously tried to pick up their style of play,” said Goh.

“We are happy that we can overcome our struggles of last week. Kim and Seo didn’t make many unforced errors, and our communication with each other was very good. They didn’t give us many chances as they increased the speed in the second game, and we had to catch up with their speed. This medal means a lot not only to us, but to our team as well, so thank you to them.”

With Setiawan retiring next week, Izzuddin hailed the Daddies’ influence on their game.

“If we keep performing well, we can achieve a higher (No.1) ranking,” said Izzuddin. “We had to be patient and not make many mistakes.”

Sakuramoto/Igarashi Surge to Title

Ayako Sakuramoto & Arisa Igarashi

Ayako Sakuramoto’s plan to team up with Arisa Igarashi at the end of last year yielded returns far earlier than they anticipated as the new combination walked away with the women’s doubles crown.

In just their third tournament together, they careened through the draw, beating three top 10 pairs before forcing their way past Koreans Kim Hye Jeong/Kong Hee Yong in straight games in today’s final.

“It was my idea,” said Sakuramoto, of their decision to pair up. “She is an attacking player and gives me a lot of opportunities.”

Having focussed on mixed doubles through most of her career, Igarashi has made a stunningly quick transition to women’s doubles. Her impact was obvious, with the jump smashes, coupled with Sakuramoto’s creative angles, keeping the Japanese in front.

“It was our first Super 750 final and it means a lot to win this,” said Sakuramoto. “We didn’t expect to win but we have been training for this.”

Her partner, who had a successful career in mixed doubles before turning to women’s doubles, said: “I have won in mixed doubles, but to win in women’s doubles makes me very happy.”

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