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Jonassen on spying mission in Tokyo

Jonassen on spying mission in Tokyo

New Straits Times18 hours ago
KUALA LUMPUR: Leong Jun Hao is Malaysia's only men's singles entry at the Japan Open this week, but national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen will still be a busy man in Tokyo.
The Dane will be on a spying mission there ahead of the Paris World Championships on Aug 25-31.
Apart from being on duty during the first round clash between Jun Hao and France's world No. 8 Alex Lanier, Jonassen will observe the potential rivals in Paris.
He said it is vital to study players form Japan and China in the preparation for the World Championships.
"I'm there (in Tokyo) to gather more information about how to approach the World Championships."
World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn will be under scrutiny from the rival camps. The Thai hotshot faces China's skilful but inconsistent world No. 13 Weng Hong Yang in the first round.
The Japan Open will also be a testing ground for Denmark's world No. 2 Anders Antonsen and China's world No. 3 Shi Yu Qi ahead of the World Championships.
Jonassen is not hyping up the expectations on world No. 24 Jun Hao in his match against Lanier. The Frenchman is well ahead in ranking and is the Japan Open defending champion.
"This is the case of an unseeded player (Jun Hao) facing a world top eight player. I want Jun Hao to get the most out of his game, enjoy the challenge of the physical game that is coming," said Jonassen.
"Jun Hao is a tricky opponent for anybody and he has done well at the Singapore and Indonesia Opens."
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