KUALA LUMPUR: National men's doubles Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have claimed their career breakthrough victory after winning the German Open in Mulheim on Sunday.
The world No 17 prevailed 23-21, 16-21, 21-14 against China's Ou Xuanyi-Liu Yuchen in a pulsating 70-minute final to lift their maiden World Tour title at the Westenergie Sporthalle.
With the triumph, Sze Fei-Izzuddin are now the first Malaysian pair to lift the German Open since Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in 1999.
More importantly, Sze Fei-Izzuddin can now feel that they are among the elite pairs in the world.
Since pairing up in 2016, the duo have not been able to live up to their potential with the runner-up finish in the 2017 Malaysian Masters, being their career-best result prior to this triumph.
They did start showing signs of revival, though, since last year by producing several commendable results, notably reaching the semi-finals of the Denmark Open en route to breaking into the world's top 20 for the first time.
In the men's singles final, Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn was also celebrating a well-deserved first World Tour victory after he defeated India's Lakhsya Sen 21-18, 21-15.
Kunlavut, a three-time world junior champion, has been knocking on the doors on a first World Tour title in the past two years but was denied by world No 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the finals of 2020 Spain Masters, and Swiss Open and World Tour Finals last year.
Kunlavut's triumph made it a double joy for the Thais after their world No 1 mixed doubles Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai had powered to a sixth consecutive victory - a streak that came a full circle in Germany having won the Hylo Open in last October.
Dechapol-Sapsiree, playing in their first tournament as world champions, brushed aside China's newly combined Xuanyi-Huang Yaqiong 21-11, 21-9 to sound an early warning ahead of the All England this week.
China won't be disappointed with their overall outing as they still managed two titles out of four finals they entered.
He Bingjiao defeated compatriot Olympic champion Chen Yufei 21-14, 27-25 for the women's singles crown while Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan took the women's doubles honour by outlasting Bulgaria's Stoeva sisters-Stefani-Gabriela 21-16, 29-30, 21-19 in an 107-minute duel
RESULTS - FINALS
Men's singles: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) bt Lakshya Sen (Ind) 21-18, 21-15.
Men's doubles: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (Mas) bt Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi (Chn) 23-21, 16-21, 21-14.
Women's singles: He Bingjiao (Chn) bt Chen Yufei (Chn) 21-14, 27-25.
Women's doubles: Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn) bt Gabriela Stoeva-Stefani Stoeva (Bul) 21-16, 29-30, 21-19.
Mixed doubles: Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) bt Ou Xuanyi-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) 21-11, 21-9.