PETALING JAYA: Will Malaysia turn to Leong Jun Hao or Justin Hoh for the men’s singles match in their opening Group C tie against France at the Sudirman Cup tomorrow?
The national team can afford to breathe a little easier as France will not be fielding their strongest squad, with key players Alex Lanier, Toma Junior Popov, Christo Popov and mixed doubles pair Delphine Delrue-Thom Gicquel all absent.
Still, the men’s singles match could prove tricky, as Arnaud Merkle is no pushover.
Jun Hao holds a winning record over Merkle, having beaten the Frenchman two years ago at the Orleans Masters.
Justin, meanwhile, has an even head-to-head record against the 25-year-old. However, in their most recent meeting at this year’s Orleans Masters, it was Merkle who emerged victorious.
Currently, national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has been putting Jun Hao and Justin through a special training programme ahead of the Sudirman Cup, recognising that securing the men’s singles point could be crucial to Malaysia’s chances of success in the tournament.
Justin, for his part, is ready for a potential rematch with Merkle if he gets the nod to play.
“For a team event like this, not everyone will get the chance to play. Whether I’m fielded or not, I’ll continue to support the team and do my part to help us win,” said Justin.
“If I do get the opportunity, I’ll give it my best because this is my first Sudirman Cup and I want to make Malaysia proud. Right now, we’re undergoing a special training programme tailored for the Sudirman Cup, and we’re making our final preparations. Hopefully, we can deliver our best performance,” said Justin.
At the same time, Justin and his teammates are doing their best to adapt to the conditions at the competition venue, the Fenghuang Gymnasium at the Xiamen Olympic Sports Centre, where the strong drift inside the hall has proven to be a challenge.
“We’re trying our best to adapt to the venue because it’s quite a large hall, and there’s also wind inside.
“The wind is quite strong, so it’s harder to control the shuttle. We need to adapt as quickly as possible,” he added.
