Early hiccup: Malaysia's Leong Jun Hao hits a return against Japan's Kodai Naraoka during their men's singles match in the Japan Open at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. - AFP
PETALING JAYA: Men singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao's winning run against Kodai Naraoka has ended in the Japan Open.
On Thursday (Aug 22), the world No. 27 Jun Hao blew away a good start to go down 23-21, 10-21, 15-21 to Japan's No. 1 and world No. 8 Naraoka in the second round in Yokohama.
Jun Hao had beaten Kodai in their last two meetings when the former was in top form many years ago. He had beaten the Japanese at the 2017 world junior championships and the 2019 Bangladesh International Challenge.
However, with his progress hampered by series of injuries over the last few years, Jun Hao, who is now making a stronger presence on the world stage, has to step up quick to catch up with the rest of the top 10 players.
He has shown glimpses of past brilliance and has scored several upsets, but knows he has to be more consistent.
In the men's doubles, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani made it to the quarter-finals but Choong Han Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri went down fighting 21-16, 8-21, 15-21 to Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto of Indonesia.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who had beaten Liu Kuang-heng-Yang Po-han of Taiwan 21-14, 24-22, will face Fajar-Rian next.
Meanwhile, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei also made it to the quarter-finals after beating their Denmark opponents Julie Finne-Ipsen-Mai Surrow and Mads Vestergaard Christine Busch respectively.
RESULTS
Men's singles: Kodai Naraoka (Jpn) bt Leong Jun Hao 21-23, 21-10, 21-15.
Men's doubles: Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Ina) bt Choong Han Jian-Muhammad Haikal Nazri 16-21, 21-8, 21-15; Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani bt Liu Kuang-heng-Yang Po-han (Tpe) 21-14, 24-22.
Women's doubles: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bt Julie Finne-Ipsen-Mai Surrow (Den) 21-10, 22-20.
Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Mads Vestergaard Christine Busch (Den) 21-13, 21-13.
