Latest news with #CanadaOpens
New Straits Times
03-08-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Justin smiles after rediscovering form at Macau Open
KUALA LUMPUR: Justin Hoh may have fallen short in the Macau Open final, but the men's singles shuttler was all smiles after rediscovering form following a rough patch in North America. The 21-year-old bounced back impressively in Macau after early exits at the US and Canada Opens — both Super 300 tournaments — last month. He crashed out in the second round in the US and suffered a first-round defeat in Canada. However, a timely chat with national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen and coach K. Yogendran upon returning home proved pivotal. It helped the world No. 45 regroup and reach his maiden Super 300 final. "I'm really pleased — this was my first Super 300 final," said Justin. "The discussion with Kenneth and Yogendran after the US and Canada Opens was a step in the right direction. We needed clarity and a better plan to improve my performance." Justin, however, was visibly unsettled in Sunday's final, played under bizarre circumstances at the Macau East Asian Games Dome. A leaking roof and slippery court affected his focus and heightened his fear of injury. He was soundly beaten 21-15, 21-5 by Indonesia's world No. 25 Alwi Farhan. Despite the defeat, Justin took plenty of positives from the tournament. "I've learnt to be more patient. I still need to sharpen my skills and match strategy," he added. Next on the agenda is a valuable stint in Europe. Justin will join world No. 24 Leong Jun Hao and women's No. 41 K. Letshanaa in a training camp with the Danish national team in Copenhagen from August 18-22, ahead of the World Championships in Paris (Aug 25-31).
New Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
BAM boss inspires Justin and Co before US Open challenge
KUALA LUMPUR: Men's singles ace Justin Hoh and his compatriots received a timely morale boost from BA of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz ahead of the US Open, which starts on Tuesday in Iowa. Tengku Zafrul, who is also the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, is currently on a working visit in Washington DC and took the opportunity to encourage the Malaysian contingent taking part in the Super 300 event. World No. 42 Justin will be joined at the US and Canada Opens (July 1-7) by men's singles Eogene Ewe (world No. 101) and women's singles K. Letshanaa (No. 50) and Wong Ling Ching (No. 99) — all making their debut appearances at both tournaments. Tengku Zafrul revealed via social media that fans had asked him to lend support to the BAM players competing in the United States. "I've received requests from fans to observe and support the BAM players who are competing at the US Open in Iowa," he posted on Instagram. "If it were nearby, I'd definitely be there to cheer them on, but the distance from Washington to Iowa is nearly 1,900km. "To Justin, Eogene, Letshanaa and Ling Ching — do your best and make us proud." Justin will be aiming to surpass his best result of the year — a quarter-final showing at the Taiwan Open — but faces stiff competition in Iowa. The tournament is headlined by world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan, the recent runner-up at the Super 1000 Indonesia Open. Justin is expected to clear the opening hurdle against world No. 61 Julien Carraggi of Belgium, but could face a tricky second-round tie against India's world No. 58 S. Sankar Muthusamy, followed by a potential quarter-final clash with world No. 12 Kenta Nishimoto of Japan. Eogene opens his campaign in the qualifying round against India's Darshan Pujari on Tuesday. In the women's singles, Letshanaa faces a tough first-round draw against 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan, while Ling Ching takes on American No. 110 Isabelle Rusli in the qualifying round.
