PETALING JAYA: National men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao’s progress into the Spain Masters quarter-finals is a step in the right direction for the 24-year-old.
It is the first time the player from Kuala Lumpur has made it to the final in eight of his tournaments this year, and having only won seven out of 13 matches so far in 2024, he is surely looking to make it further in Madrid.
And he did it in style, by dumping reigning Swiss Open champion Lin Chun-yi of Taiwan 21-17, 21-18 in just 36 minutes on Thursday.
Jun Hao’s first round fixture against Spain’s Pablo Abian proved to be easier than expected for the world No. 37 Malaysian as he closed out the match 21-16, 21-18 in 38 minutes.
Many did not expect him to go past the world No. 19 Chun-yi but he pulled off a big surprise.
Armed with the previous result between the pair that went in Jun Hao’s way at the Hong Kong Open last year, the Malaysian pulled off the stunning victory to set up a meeting with the in form Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan.
Tien-chen had finished as the runner-up at the Swiss Open alongside compatriot Chun-yi.
A stellar victory for Jun Hao himself, but Chun-yi’s exit may have also benefited compatriot Ng Tze Yong, who is still battling his way to earn a ticket to the Paris Olympics.
Currently ranked 17th in the Race to Paris, Tze Yong is just one spot away from securing his place at the Olympics, but Chun-yi is just one position below him.
Jun Hao’s win may have helped Tze Yong hold on as further progress in the Spain Masters by Chun-yi would have allowed him to leap over Tze Yong in the rankings.
Tze Yong’s final push for Paris will take place during the Asian Championships in Ningbo, China from April 9-14.
A key part in Malaysia’s runners-up finish at the Asia Team Championships in February, Jun Hao needs to maintain his form if he wishes to be part of the team that heads to Chengdu, China for the Thomas Cup Finals from April 27-May 5.
