Jun Hao out to raise a few eyebrows in debut on prestigious stage
PETALING JAYA: Expectations may not be high on men's singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao in the World Championships from Aug 25-31 in Paris but the debutant is out to punch above his weight.
Despite going through a difficult year so far, Jun Hao has still managed to topple the likes of China's world No. 4 Li Shifeng, Indonesia's world No. 5 Jonatan Christie and Japan's Kodai Naraoka (No. 8).
The world No. 25 though has not managed to remain consistent throughout a tournament and is keen to improve his record in the world meet.
"I'm excited to get to play in the World Championships for the first time. I'm hoping to get a positive result by pulling off a few upsets," said Jun Hao after a training session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
"In a major tournament, everyone has chances to do well. I'm taking it one match at a time as always.
"Every match is a challenge that I need to overcome and I want to play my best.
"In training, I have been focusing on improving my strategies and consistency during matches," added Jun Hao.
As part of his preparations for the prestigious meet, Jun Hao will head to Copenhagen for a training camp with the Denmark national team from Aug 18-22.
Singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, who was head coach of Denmark before joining the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in January, was instrumental in arranging the training camp in an effort to provide Jun Hao and women's singles player K. Letshanaa with some quality sparring sessions before the Paris showpiece.
"Although there is not a lot of time to learn new things, this is a chance to have some quality sparring in a different environment," said Jun Hao.
"This is the first time I will be experiencing something like this before a big tournament.
"Kenneth has connections as he was the head coach there, so this is a good initiative from him."
Jun Hao's best performance in his career so far came in the World Tour Super 500 Japan Masters last November where he finished runners-up to Shifeng.
The 26-year-old though has struggled to replicate the form he showed in the tourney, with his best showing this year coming in the Singapore Open in May where he made it to the quarter-finals.
In the World Championships, Liew Daren was the last Malaysian to win a medal in the men's singles when he claimed bronze in the 2018 edition in Nanjing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
39 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Yu Qi draws on Wong Fei Hung spirit in bid for first world title
KUALA LUMPUR: Like martial arts legend Wong Fei Hung stepping into a duel with a worthy opponent, world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi will have to summon all his mastery when he opens his World Championships campaign in Paris from Aug 25-31. The Chinese ace, chasing an elusive world crown, has been handed one of the toughest first-round assignments ever for a top seed — a showdown with India's world No. 21 Lakshya Sen, a semi-finallist at last year's Paris Olympics. The 23-year-old Lakshya has struggled for form this season but remains a proven big-stage performer. At the Paris Olympics last year, he stunned the third seed Jonatan Christie in the group stage and came within one win of a medal before losing to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in the bronze playoff. Lakshya already owns a World Championships bronze from 2021 in Huelva and was a driving force behind India's historic Thomas Cup triumph in 2022. Yu Qi, however, holds a 3-1 career record against the Indian, winning their last three meetings since 2022. The 29-year-old also enters Paris as the overwhelming favourite after a stellar season. He has captured four World Tour titles this year — the Malaysia Open, All England, Japan Open, and China Open — and is riding a 10-match winning streak. Yu Qi will still tread cautiously if he is to improve on his best result of a runner-up finish in Nanjing 2018. Victory this week would also restore China's men's singles supremacy last seen in 2015 and place Yu Qi among an illustrious list of champions including Han Jian, Yang Yang, Zhao Jian Hua, Sun Jun, Xia Xuan Ze, Chen Jin, Lin Dan, and Chen Long. If he advances, Yu Qi should have few problems in the second round against either Vietnam's Le Duc Phat or Belgium's Julien Carraggi. The last 16 could pit him against France's Christo Popov or Hong Kong's Angus Ng. A possible quarter-final awaits against another home hero Alex Lanier or fellow Chinese Weng Hong Yang. Probable semi-final opponents from the other quarter include compatriots Li Shi Feng and Lu Guang Zu, Zii Jia, Japan's Kodai Naraoka, or Singapore's 2021 champion Loh Kean Yew. The men's singles draw also promises fireworks elsewhere in the early rounds. Home favourite and world No. 16 Alex Lanier, looking to inspire the Paris crowd, must first negotiate Thailand's 2019 bronze medallist Kantaphon Wangcharoen in the opening round. Another headline clash sees former world No. 2 Anthony Ginting face French world No. 15 Toma Junior Popov. It will be only Ginting's third appearance since returning from a long injury layoff, having suffered first-round exits at both the Japan and China Opens. The match is also a rematch of last year's Paris Olympics group stage, when Popov upset the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist to reach the knockout phase.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Paris-bound Tang Jie-Ee Wei aim to make waves on the Seine
KUALA LUMPUR: A year after their memorable run to the Olympic quarter-finals in Paris, Chen Tang Jie- Toh Ee Wei are back in the French capital — this time aiming for a medal on a road that promises far more than a stroll down the Seine. The world No. 4 have been handed a potentially tricky path to the final following the draw released on Wednesday. Seeded fourth and quarter-finalists on their debut in Copenhagen in 2023, Tang Jie-Ee Wei will enjoy a first-round bye. They will open their campaign in the second round possibly against India's Rohan Kapoor-Ruthvika Gadde. The world No. 33 Indians should pose little trouble on paper, but as the first outing in Paris, Tang Jie-Ee Wei will be eager to shake off any rust quickly. It will also be the first meeting between the two pairs. The first real test is expected in the last 16 against Indonesia's world No. 11 Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu. The Malaysians have beaten them twice this year — at the Indonesia Masters in January and Japan Open last month. However, the young Indonesians have made significant strides, lifting the Taiwan Open title in June and reaching the semi-finals of both the Asia Championships and China Open. If they clear that hurdle, a quarter-final showdown looms with Hong Kong veterans Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet. The Hong Kong pair, now under the guidance of former Malaysian international Jeremy Gan, have met Tang Jie-Ee Wei only once, with the Malaysians winning at the 2023 Arctic Open. Chun Man-Ying Suet have been rejuvenated since reuniting in April, stunning the continent's elite by winning the Asia Championships. They will be looking to add to their two World Championships' bronzes from 2018 and 2021. Reaching the semi-finals would likely mean a clash with top seeds Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping. The in-form Chinese pair have captured eight titles in their last 11 tournaments they started. While Tang Jie-Ee Wei memorably beat them in the Paris Olympics group stage, the Chinese duo still lead their head-to-head 6-2. Yan Zhe-Dong Ping will also be out to make amends for their quarter-final exit at the Games 12 months ago. National mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto believes the fourth seeding offers a crucial edge. "A seeding certainly gives a bigger chance," said Nova. "With this position, in the quarter-finals they won't meet the top pairs, especially the Chinese, so the minimum target should be a medal — at least the semi-finals." Malaysia have only ever won one mixed doubles medal in the history of the World Championships. "If Tang Jie-Ee Wei succeed, it will be historic," Nova added. "We've even joked with friends, hoping that mixed doubles luck will be on our side at this World Championships." If successful, Tang Jie-Ee Wei would become just the second Malaysian mixed doubles pair to reach the podium after Koo Kien Keat-Wong Pei Tty's bronze in 2006.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
What Jun Hao needs to do to 'stay alive' in Paris
KUALA LUMPUR: National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen sees a window of opportunity for Leong Jun Hao at the Paris World Championships from Aug 25–31 despite the shuttler facing some big names in the early rounds. Debutant Jun Hao, who is ranked world No. 25, will potentially meet Japan's Kenta Nishimoto (No. 14) and Taiwan's Chou Tien Chen (No. 6) in difficult second and third round matches respectively. The former Asian Junior champion has beaten several world top 10 players, including Tien Chen (head-to-head 1-1). Against Nishimoto, it's 3-2. Jun Hao, 26, stands a fighting chance of making it to the quarter-finals and put himself in contention for a medal. "Jun Hao has a positive draw, and there are chances (of good results) if he performs at his highest level and stays consistent every day (in Paris)," said Jonassen. "For now, we need to focus on the next 10 days and get our final preparations done." Jun Hao should clear the first round against Switzerland's world No. 147 Tobias Kuenzi. However, much will depend on his ability to string together more than one big win after that, as his inconsistency has stymied his chances of achieving better results. Jun Hao defeated Nishimoto in the first round of the China Open last month, but lost to Thailand's world No. 3 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the second. At the Singapore Open, he overcame Indonesia's world No. 5 Jonatan Christie in the second round but lost to Kunlavut in the last eight. At the India Open in January, Jun Hao started well by toppling China's world No. 4 Li Shi Feng, but was beaten by China's world No. 16 Weng Hong Yang next. So it will be important for Jun Hao to "show up in every round", as pointed out by Jonassen, in order to make a strong impact in Paris. Jonassen, who led the Danish team at the Olympics last year, is well aware of the court conditions at the Adidas Arena in Paris. "As for the court conditions, I believe we have a good understanding after last year's Olympics in terms of what to expect," added Jonassen. Though Jun Hao didn't qualify for the Paris Olympics, he had competed in the Adidas Arena at the French Open earlier.
