Jun Hao shocks Japanese top seed
LEONG Jun Hao announced his arrival on the senior stage in style when he upset top seed Yu Igarashi of Japan yesterday to reach the third round of the Celcom Axiata Malaysia International Challenge in Pasir Gudang, Johor.
The Malaysian, who came in second at the World Junior Championships last month, showed no signs of nerves in chalking up a 21-17, 21-11 win over the Japanese in just 40 minutes at the Stadium Perbandaran Pasir Gudang.
Jun Hao, 18, will take on his senior teammate and reigning national champion Lim Chi Wing next for a place in Friday's quarter-finals.
Chi Wing had earlier seen off independent shuttler Muhammad Ziyad Md Tah 21-19, 21-10 in the second round.
“I am extremely happy with the way I played against Igarashi. I was in total control. I really want to make this tournament a special one for me," said Jun Hao, who is also the reigning Asian junior champion.
On his match against Chi Wing, Jun Hao said: “I lost to him narrowly in the quarter-finals of the National Championships earlier this year. I managed to drag him to the third game before losing 21-19. It will be nice to turn the tables on him this time.”
The other men's singles to clear the second round were Chong Yee Han and seventh seed Goh Giap Chin. It was the end of the road, however, for fourth seed Soong Joo Ven, who lost 219, 21-18 to Indonesia's Firman Abdul Kholik.
In the opening round of the women's singles, fourth seed Ho Yen Mei faced no problem in defeating Japan's Shiori Saito 21-11, 21-16. Yen Mei will play qualifier Manassanan Lerthattasin of Thailand next today.
In the men's doubles first round, top seed Chooi Kah MingLow Juan Shen lived up to their billing when they knocked out Indonesia's Calvin Kristanto-Bagas Maulana 21-13, 21-15.
The other top Malaysian pairs who cleared the first round yesterday were women's doubles Joyce Choong-Goh Yea Ching, Lim Chiew Sien-Yap Zhen and mixed doubles' Hoo Pang RonPeck Yen Wei. Fabian Peter