Tokyo: Malaysian men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are now just one win away from making history as the first Malaysian men’s pair to win the Japan Open title twice, following a dominant performance in today’s semifinal.
Watch Highlights of Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin vs. Liu Kuang Heng-Yang Po Han in 2025 Japan Open semi-finals:
Playing at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Sze Fei-Izzuddin delivered a clinical display to defeat Taiwan’s Liu Kuang Heng and Yang Po Han 21-19, 21-11 in just 35 minutes. This was their second win over the Taiwanese duo, having also beaten them en route to the championship in Tokyo last year.
Should they succeed in defending their title on Sunday, the Malaysian duo will surpass the legendary achievements of past national icons such as Razif-Jalani Sidek (1986), Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock (1998), and Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng (2002) — all of whom have won the Japan Open once.
This would also mark their second title of the season, adding to their victory at the India Open earlier in January.
However, a stern test awaits in the final as they will face World No. 3 Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea. The head-to-head between the pairs is currently tied at 1-1. The Koreans won their most recent clash at the All England Open in March, while Sze Fei-Izzuddin triumphed in the India Open final earlier this year.
Kim and Seo advanced to the final after dispatching another Malaysian pair, Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi, 21-14, 21-15 in the other semifinal.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles category, Chinese star Shi Yuqi is set for a blockbuster final against rising French sensation Alex Lanier, who has made Japan his personal fortress.
The 20-year-old Lanier, seeded third, reached his second consecutive Japan Open final after defeating home favorite Koki Watanabe 21-19, 21-15. If victorious, Lanier will become the first European in 26 years to defend the Japan Open men’s singles crown.
Lanier claimed his maiden Super 750 title last year in Tokyo, defeating Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen in the final. At just 19, he broke the record previously held by Lakshya Sen and Kento Momota to become the youngest men’s singles winner on the BWF World Tour Super Series.
This year, Lanier’s road to the final included wins over Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao, Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan, and Taiwan’s Chi Yu Jen before overcoming Watanabe.
He now aims to join an elite club of two-time champions that includes Ardy Wiranata (1991–92), Peter Gade (1998–99), Lin Dan (2005–06), and Kento Momota (2018–19). Only Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei has won the tournament three times in a row (2012–2014).
In a rematch of last year’s semifinal where Lanier stunned Shi Yuqi in an 83-minute thriller, both men are set to reignite their rivalry in Sunday’s grand finale.
