PETALING JAYA: Leong Jun Hao’s struggles with slow starts came back to haunt him again as the national men’s singles shuttler fell at the first hurdle of the Asian Championships in Ningbo, China on Tuesday (April 8).
Despite having beaten Taiwan’s world No. 13 Li Chun-yi twice before, Jun Hao could not replicate that form in their third meeting.
He showed glimpses of a fightback midway through the second game but did not do enough to turn the tide, falling 11-21, 19-21 in 42 minutes.
It was also an early exit for women’s singles shuttler Wong Li Ching, who went down fighting against Indonesia’s Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi 17-21, 21-16, 17-21.
There was some cheer for the Malaysian camp, as Goh Jin Wei eased into the second round with a convincing 21-16, 21-13 win over Taiwan’s Sung Shuo-yun.
In the men’s doubles, top seeds Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzudin Rumsani lived up to expectations by cruising into the second round after seeing off Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi.
Despite trailing 1-3 in their head-to-head record, the Malaysian pair put on a composed performance to claim a straight-game victory, winning 21-18, 21-16 in just 37 minutes.
