A fighter: Leong Jun Hao finally wins a biggie at the Indonesian Masters. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Leong Jun Hao saved his best to lift his first World Tour career title in the Indonesian Masters in Malang on Sunday and dedicated it to his late grandfather.
The 23-year-old staged a superb comeback to beat independent shuttler Cheam June Wei 9-21, 22-20, 21-19 in a tight all-Malaysian men's singles final that lasted for one hour and seven minutes.
It was an important win as Jun Hao has not won any title since reaching the final of the Thailand Masters in 2018. In fact, he had been plagued with injuries and confidence crisis.
"Finally, I've won my first Tour title," said Jun Hao.
"It feels good to be on top of the podium after a long time...this is my first final since I made a comeback from my injury.
"The match was tough against June Wei and I was trailing most part of it, but I didn't give up. I kept my focus on every point.
"I didn't want to miss an opportunity here after losing a shot of winning a gold at the Malaysia Games (Sukma). That kept me going and I'm glad that I pulled it off at the end."
"My beloved grandfather passed away a few days ago, this title is for him. I would also like to thank my family and coach for their support," added Jun Hao.
