Unstoppable: Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen was just too good for Leong Jun Hao, winning 21-12, 21-11 in 41 minutes.
PETALING JAYA: Going up against world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen is always a daunting task, and national men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao was well aware of the challenge in their Singapore Open quarter-final clash yesterday.
And the Malaysian world No. 36, as expected, could not get the better of the mighty Dane as he lost 12-21, 11-21 in 41 minutes.
“It surely was a tough match and there are loads for me to learn from this game. I will take it with me as I conclude my run here and see what I need to improve on,” said Jun Hao.
He will have a few days to recuperate as he gears up for the Indonesian Open starting next week, where he is currently placed in the reserve list.
“It’s been quite a few tournaments back-to-back, so now the focus is on recovering and preparing for Indonesia,” he said.
Jun Hao made headlines in the second round after he savoured his career highlight by stunning world No. 7 Anthony Ginting of Indonesia.
Singapore is also Jun Hao’s debut Super 750 tournament, and a commendable effort as the 24-year-old had made it to the last eight.
His defeat also marked the end of Malaysia’s campaign in the Lion City as men’s doubles hopefuls Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik also ended their run after losing to Denmark’s Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.
The world No. 5 lost 10-21, 14-21 yesterday to the fourth ranked Danish pair, who will now face Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto in the semi-finals today.
Out of their 11 past matches, Aaron-Wooi Yik had won seven matches, winning the previous three consecutively.
Meanwhile, another men’s doubles duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani could not get past China’s He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu as they lost 16-21, 21-9, 17-21 in the quarter-final.
The Chinese players will face Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi in the semi-finals today.
Mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei also ended their run after losing to South Korea’s Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung 21-14, 21-18 yesterday.
Q-FINAL RESULTS
Malaysians unless stated
Men’s singles: Viktor Axelsen (Den) bt Leong Jun Hao 21-11, 21-11; Shi Yuqi (Chn) bt Kodai Naraoka (Jap) 17-21, 21-12, 23-21; Chou Tien-chen (Tpe) bt Kenta Nishimoto (Jap) 21-17, 21-13
Men’s doubles: He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu (Chn) bt Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani 21-16, 9-21, 21-17; Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi (Jap) bt Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) 21-19, 21-15; Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (Den) bt Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 21-10, 21-14; Fajar Alfian- Rian Ardianto (Ina) bt Liang Weikang-Wang Chang (Chn) 21-17, 21-9
Mixed doubles: Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung (Kor) bt Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei 21-14, 21-18; Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch (Den) bt Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek (Ned) 21-15, 13-21, 22-20; Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) bt Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin (Chn) 21-14, 22-20; Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang (Tpe) bt Ye Hong-wei-Lee Chia-hsin (Tpe) 21-17, 21-17.
