PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao is keen to recover fully from an elbow injury and regain his rhythm ahead of the Malaysian Masters which starts next Tuesday at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
World No. 24 Jun Hao was forced to pull out of the ongoing Thailand Open in Bangkok after injuring his right elbow in the Sudirman Cup early this month.
The 25-year-old was disappointed to miss the tourney after showing encouraging signs of regaining his best form in the mixed team meet and is now eyeing a swift return in the home event.
Jun Hao pulled off an impressive victory over Japan’s world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka in a group match in the Sudirman Cup.
“In the heat of the competition (in the Sudirman Cup), I didn’t realise that I had picked up an injury,” said Jun Hao.
“Only after I returned to Malaysia, I felt pain in my right elbow. I felt it was better to rest and recover first, so that I will be better prepared for the Malaysian Masters next week.
“I’m undergoing rehab now and I’m feeling better.
“The most important thing is to fully recover before the tournament.
“Any player will feel down in my situation and I do feel this injury has disrupted my momentum but I am doing everything I can to come back. I want to regain my rhythm in matches,” added Jun Hao.
Malaysian fans will be hoping for Jun Hao to fully recover in time for the home Masters as national No. 1 and last year’s runners-up Lee Zii Jia is out of the tourney due to an ankle injury.
Jun Hao, who is the national No. 2 currently, is the country’s best hope in the men’s singles in Zii Jia’s absence.
In the draw released yesterday, the 2017 Asian Junior champion will face Ireland’s world No. 34 Nhat Nguyen in the first round.
A victory will likely see Jun Hao take on Taiwan’s world No. 7 Chou Tien-chen next for a place in the last eight.
Meanwhile, the other Malaysians in the fray in the men’s singles will be Ng Tze Yong and qualifiers Justin Hoh, Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, Jacky Kok and Tan Jia Jie.
Tze Yong, who will be returning to the Axiata Arena for the first time since injuring his back at the same venue in the Malaysian Open in January last year, has a tough opener against Hong Kong’s world No. 17 Angus Ng Ka Long.
