Malaysia's hopes of winning the Japan Open came to an end after Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were beaten by South Korea's world No. 1 pair Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae in the men's doubles semi-finals.
The world No. 6 Malaysians fought back strongly after a slow start but ultimately lost 12-21, 21-11, 13-21 in an entertaining three-game contest at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Sze Fei and Izzuddin struggled to find their rhythm in the opening game as the Korean pair quickly took control. However, the Malaysians responded in impressive fashion, dominating the second game to level the match and force a decider.
The momentum shifted again in the third game, with Kim and Seo regaining control through their aggressive attack and solid defence before sealing victory to book their place in the final.
The defeat was a disappointing end to what had been another encouraging run for the Malaysian pair, who were hoping to reach their third consecutive Japan Open final.
The semi-final also marked another chapter in one of the tour's most competitive rivalries. Sze Fei and Izzuddin had defeated the same Korean duo to win the Indonesia Open Super 1000 title just last month, but Kim and Seo gained revenge in Tokyo to improve their head-to-head record to three wins from five meetings.
Despite the loss, the Malaysians once again demonstrated they can compete with the world's best, pushing the top-ranked pair before narrowly missing out on another major final.
Malaysia's campaign in Tokyo also ended in the mixed doubles event, where Jimmy Wong and Cheng Su Yin exited after losing to Hong Kong's world No. 8 pair Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet.
The Malaysian duo put up a spirited fight but were unable to overcome the more experienced opponents, bringing Malaysia's participation at this year's Japan Open to a close.
Although the tournament ended without a title, Sze Fei and Izzuddin's consistent performances at the highest level continue to reinforce their status as one of the leading men's doubles pairs on the BWF World Tour.
