Justin gains from top seed Antonsen's Malaysia Masters withdrawal
KUALA LUMPUR: Top seed Anders Antonsen has pulled out of the Malaysia Masters, clearing the way for rising Malaysian shuttler Justin Hoh to earn promotion to the main draw of the Super 500 event.
World No. 3 Antonsen was a finalist at last week's Thailand Open, where he lost to world No. 2 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the final.
His withdrawal means world No. 4 Li Shifeng is now the only top-six men's singles player featuring in the tournament, which starts on Tuesday at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
World No. 45 Justin, who was slated to play in the qualifying round against compatriot Jacky Kok, now faces a tough first-round clash against world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka of Japan on Wednesday.
Justin reached the quarter-finals of the Super 300 Taiwan Open earlier this month but fell in the first round of the Thailand Open.
Meanwhile, men's doubles action starts on Tuesday with world No. 2 and second seeds Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani opening their campaign against France's world No. 48 Eloi Adam-Leo Rossi.
World No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun take on India's K. Pruthvi-Sai Prateek (No. 45), while world No. 31 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi face a tough opener against China's world No. 3 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang.
World No. 21 Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King are up against Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita (No. 36), while Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri (No. 37) face world No. 16 Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Kittinupong Kedren of Thailand.
Newly crowned Thailand Open champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will begin their campaign on Wednesday.
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