KUALA LUMPUR: High-riding independent pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have impressed former Malaysian international and Japan men's doubles coach Tan Kim Her.
World No. 8 Sze Fei-Izzuddin strolled into the last eight of the Arctic Open men's doubles quarter-finals today, beating Kim Her's charges, Kenya Mitsuhashi-Hiroki Okamura 21-16, 21-16 in 41 minutes.
Despite a brief 5-2 lead in the first game, World No. 20 Mitsuhashi-Okamura were never given the chance to dictate terms as Sze Fei-Izzuddin continued their fiery run in the world tour.
Having won the Japan and China Opens last month, Sze Fei-Izzuddin look set for another good run after their convincing win over Mitsuhashi-Okamura, who are Japan's second pair behind former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi.
"I'm quite impressed with Sze Fei-Izzuddin's recent performance and they have improved a lot," said the widely travelled Kim Her.
"In terms of experience and the overall quality of their game, the Malaysian pair is definitely better than Mitsuhashi-Okamura.
"Sze Fei-Izzuddin are the better pair and were in full control of the match today.
"Mitsuhashi-Okamura are an up-and-coming pair and they need time to get better. They need to work harder to improve their front and mid court game."
Sze Fei-Izzuddin are one of the two independent men's doubles pairs competing in Finland, but World No. 18 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi crashed out in the first round late Wednesday.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi, semi-finalists at the super 1000 China Open, could not reproduce their form and lost 21-14, 21-16 to Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard of Denmark.
Meanwhile, Malaysia are assured of a place in the semi-finals of the mixed doubles after independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin advanced from the quarter-finals, and will meet next.
World No. 10 Soon Huat-Shevon overcame new Thailand combination Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran 22-20, 21-16 in 41 minutes.
Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin also did well to beat sixth-seeded Taiwan pair Yang Po Hsuan-Hu Ling Fang 21-19, 21-12.
World No. 28 Pang Ron-Soon Huat Hoo played above themselves to beat sixth-seeded Taiwan pair Yang Po Hsuan-Hu Ling Fang 21-19, 21-12.
This will be the Malaysian pairs' first meeting against each other.