PETALING JAYA: Just when men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao (pic) was showing signs of rediscovering his best form, he suffered a blow after injury ruled him out of the Thailand Open starting tomorrow in Bangkok.
Jun Hao was supposed to take on Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long in the first round but injured his hand in the Sudirman Cup last week and the coaches didn’t want to take a risk.
The 25-year-old has to make quick recovery if he harbours hope to compete in the Malaysian Masters from May 20-25 in Bukit Jalil.
Jun Hao reached a career high No. 24 in the world after an encouraging performance in the Sudirman Cup where he toppled Japan’s world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka in a group match.
The national No. 2 was hoping to build on his positive outing but needs to wait until at least the Malaysian tourney.
National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen is hoping that Jun Hao will regain full fitness in time for the home event.
“Jun Hao has withdrawn from Thailand Open to give himself the best possible chance to get ready for Malaysian Masters,” said Jonassen.
Meanwhile, world No. 45 Justin Hoh will be Malaysia’s highest ranked men’s singles player in the Thailand tourney in the absence of Jun Hao and world No. 10 and defending champion Lee Zii Jia, who is also injured.
Justin will play Belgium’s Julien Carraggi in the first qualifying round.
Ng Tze Yong and Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin will also be in action in the men’s singles.
Tze Yong has a tough task against China’s world No. 16 Weng Hongyang in the first round while Aidil will face India’s K. Sathish Kumar in the qualifying round.
In the women’s singles, Malaysia will be represented by Goh Jin Wei, K. Letshanaa and S. Kisona.
World No. 43 Jin Wei has an uphill battle against China’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei while world No. 50 Letshanaa and Kisona (No. 75) will meet each other in the first qualifying round.
