JUN HAO STORMS INTO ASIA JUNIOR FINAL

Malaysia’s four-year wait rests on shuttler

FABIAN PETER fabian.mark@nst.com.my

LEONG Jun Hao is just one match away from ending Malaysia’s fouryear wait for the boys’ singles title after reaching the final of the Badminton Asia Junior Championships yesterday in Jakarta.

The Malaysian shuttler, however, did not have it easy in the semi-finals as he had to claw back from a game down to see off Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn 19-21, 21-14, 23-21.

Jun Hao, will play China’s Bai Yupeng next for the crown. Yupeng had upset fourth seed Ting Chen Chi of Taiwan 21-13, 21-13 in the other semi-final.

Malaysia last won the boys’ singles title in 2013 in Kota Kinabalu through Soo Teck Zhi.

“Both Jun Hao and the Thai shuttler know each other’s game really well so they were really cautious.

“However, I hope Jun Hao will be boosted by the win today and take it a notch up to win the title tomorrow.

“I was hoping for the Taiwanese to win in the other semi-final but I think he was a little tired and ran out of steam. However, if Jun Hao can bring out his game, I think he has the upper hand,” said Bukit Jalil Sports School coach Kwan Yoke Meng.

There was no such luck, however, for girls’ singles Eoon Qi Xuan and boys’ doubles Chia Wei Jie-Ng Tze Yong who crashed out in the last four stage.

Qi Xuan lost 21-11, 21-17 to fourth seed Yue Han of China while Wei Jie-Tze Yong went down 23-21, 21-13 to China’s Di ZijianChang Wang.

“We have to give our shuttlers credit because they played so well to come this far. Our boys’ doubles especially. They are both singles players and they did so well to reach the semi-final. I am very proud of them.”

Leong Jun Hao