PETALING JAYA: The Spain Masters will be the last opportunity for men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao to get a positive result in an individual tournament ahead of the Thomas Cup Finals from April 27-May 5 in Chengdu.
Jun Hao has not managed to reach the quarter-finals in World Tour events so far this year with his best performance coming in the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta in January where he made it to the second round from the qualifiers.
The 24-year-old suffered frustrating opening round exits in the Thailand Masters, Orleans Masters and Swiss Open.
Jun Hao, who is known as a team specialist, did play an important role though in Malaysia’s runners-up finish in the Asia Team Championships in Shah Alam in February and looks certain to be called up for the Thomas Cup.
A good showing in the Spain tourney will be the perfect tonic for the world No. 37 before the prestigious team meet.
Jun Hao is set to open his campaign in Madrid today against homester Pablo Abian.
A win will see the former face either Swiss Open champion Lin Chun-yi of Taiwan or China’s Lei Lanxi in the second round.
The highest ranked player in the tournament is Singapore’s world No. 11 and 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew while world No. 15 Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan could also challenge for the title.
Meanwhile, it was disappointment for independent player Cheam June Wei, who suffered an early exit in the tournament after going down 18-21, 18-21 to Singapore’s Jason Teh in the first qualifying round yesterday. (Malaysians only)First qualifying round
RESULTS
Men’s singles: Jason Teh (Sin) bt Cheam June Wei 21-18, 21-18.
