KUALA LUMPUR: Leong Jun Hao, despite his valiant efforts, has been unable to get past the quarter-final stage and the player is bent on overcoming that jinx, beginning with the ongoing KL Masters at the Titiwangsa Stadium.
Winning the Indonesian Masters (Super 100) last year gave some hope for the former Asian Junior champion to realise his true potential but the 24-year-old had gone through a rough passage on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) tour this year.
Jun Hao had reached the quarter-finals at the Orleans Masters, Thailand Open, and the Arctic Open in Finland but has yet to secure his berth in the semi-finals.
The second seed will get another shot at reaching the last four after he defeated compatriot Lee Shun Yang 21-15, 21-16 to book his quarter-final berth at the KL Masters yesterday.
“My main objective this year is to reach the semi-finals in international events. But so far, I haven’t managed to,” said Jun Hao, who is ranked 43rd in the world.
“If I can consistently get to that result (semis), my ranking will also improve and I will get to join other top seniors and compete in higher-tier tournaments.”
However, Jun Hao will receive a stern test in the last eight today against 2022 world junior champion Kuo Kuan-lin of Taiwan.
Kuan-lin secured his place in the last eight after beating compatriot Wang Po-wei 22-20, 21-9 in the third round.
“I’ve never played him before but he is a world junior champion and surely, he should have that standard in him,” added Jun Hao.
“I have to discuss with the coach on the strategy and I hope to be ready to face him tomorrow (today).”
Another BAM player Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin also booked his quarter-final berth and will play Jason Teh of Singapore.
RESULTS
THIRD ROUND
(Malaysians unless stated)
Men’s singles: Leong Jun Hao bt Lee Shun Yang 21-15, 21-16; Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin bt Cho Geon-yeop (Kor) 21-19, 21-17.
Men’s doubles: Sabar Karyaman-Moh Reza Pahlevi (Ina) bt Wee Yee Hern-Wee Yee Tern 21-14, 21-7; Nur Azryn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong bt Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai 23-25, 30-29, 21-17; Song Hyun-cho-Na Gwang-min (Kor) bt Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri 22-20, 21-15; Chen Zhi-ray-Lu Chen (Tpe) bt Fazriq Razif-Wong Vin Sean 19-21, 21-14, 21-10; Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong bt Chiang Chen-wei-Wu Hsuan-yi (Tpe) 21-16, 21-15; Hardianto Hardianto-Ade Yusuf (Ina) bt Lau Yi Sheng-Lee Yi Bo 21-18, 23-21.
Women’s singles: K. Letshanaa bt Hung Yi-ting (Tpe) 21-14, 21-18; Lee Yu-hsuan (Tpe) bt Wong Ling Ching 21-13, 11-21, 21-13.
Women’s doubles: Chang Ching-hui-Yang Ching-tun (Tpe) bt Felicia Fong-Flora Fong 19-21, 21-12, 21-11; Wang Szu-min-Wu Meng-chen (Tpe) bt Gan Jing Err-Ng Qi Xuan 21-16, 21-11; Hsu Yin-hui-Lin Jhih-yun (Tpe) bt Ho Lo Ee-Amanda Yap 21-7, 14-21, 21-18; Go Pei Kee-Low Yeen Yuan bt Gan Min Yee-Nicol Tan 21-14, 21-12.
Mixed doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See bt Liu Chun Wai-Fu Chi Yan (Hkg) 28-26, 21-19; Chen Zhi-ray-Yang Ching-tun bt Lim Tze Jian-Desiree Siow 24-22, 21-15; Choong Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee bt Chen Cheng-kuan-Hsu Yin-hui (Tpe) 21-17, 21-12.
