Hao rues missed chance but Kenneth says charge close to turning tide

Dejected: Leong Jun Hao kneels on the court as he plays Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto during the men’s second round at the World Championships. — AP

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Leong Jun Hao was left to rue a missed opportunity after seeing his debut campaign in the World Championships come to a heartbreaking end.

Jun Hao went down fighting 21-17, 13-21, 23-25 to Japan’s world No. 14 Kenta Nishimoto in an exhausting 89-minute men’s singles second round match at the Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle in Paris yesterday.