Nothing’s impossible: Leong Jun Hao could square off with Lee Zii Jia in the last eight, that is if both make it.
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Viktor Axelsen’s withdrawal from the men’s singles competition in the Arctic Open has opened the door for the likes of Leong Jun Hao and Lee Zii Jia to progress far.
Originally, Denmark’s world No. 1 Axelsen was down to play in the World Tour Super 500 competition which is making its debut in Vantaa, Finland this year but has decided to pull out.
Jun Hao, who moved up to a career-high No. 38 in the latest world rankings, has taken the Dane’s place in the upper half of the main draw in the tournament.
The 24-year-old will open his campaign against a qualifier today.
Zii Jia is in the same half of the draw as Jun Hao and could meet the latter if both reach the last eight.
Zii Jia will first need to beat a qualifier in the first round and most likely Indonesia’s world No. 22 Chico Aura in the second.
The 25-year-old went up two rungs from No. 16 to No. 14 in the world after a positive outing at the Asian Games in Hangzhou recently and will be out to continue his encouraging form.
Zii Jia had beaten Hong Kong’s world No. 18 Angus Ng Ka Long and stunned reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand en route to the quarter-finals before going down fighting to India’s world No. 8 H. S. Prannoy in three games.
Meanwhile, Jun Hao is itching for action after not getting to play a part in the Asiad.
The former Asian Junior champion was included in the men’s team but could only watch on helplessly as Malaysia suffered a shock 1-3 defeat to South Korea in the first round.
“I have an opportunity to do well here and I need to take it,” said Jun Hao.
“I’m also hungry to go all out after not getting to play in the Asiad.”
Jun Hao’s national teammate Ng Tze Yong will also be in the fray and will meet Thailand’s world No. 34 Kantaphon Wangcharoen in the opening round.
World No. 19 Tze Yong had beaten the Thai in the third round in the Asiad.
Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles, India’s newly crowned Asiad gold medallists and world No. 1 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty have also pulled out.
