BANGKOK: The disappointment was written all over Leong Jun Hao’s face after he collapsed in the first singles match of the men’s team final against Indonesia.
Jun Hao had hoped to deliver Malaysia a crucial opening point, but squandered a 19-14 lead in the second game and eventually went down 12-21, 19-21 to world No. 17 Alwi Farhan at Thammasat University in Pathum Thani yesterday.
Despite the setback, the world No. 28 is determined to pick himself up ahead of the individual event, which starts today.
Jun Hao is renowned for rising to the occasion in team events, but his SEA Games outing this time was marred by costly errors.
The 26-year-old did not hide his frustration after the match.
“I was leading but could not finish the second game.
‘‘I rushed to end the rallies, and it cost me,” lamented Jun Hao.
“I was feeling the pressure to deliver the first point, more so as this is the final.
“I will try to recover and re-focus on the individual event. I hope to do better,” added Jun Hao, who also went down to 2023 world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semi-finals against Thailand.
The 2017 Asian Junior champion has not reached the semi-finals in any of his competitions this year and only went as far as the last eight twice in the Singapore Open and Hong Kong Open.
In the biennial Games, he needs to reach the last four in the individual event to be assured of at least a bronze and equal his achievement in the last edition in 2023 in Cambodia.
Based on the draw, Jun Hao should have no problems getting past Vixunnalath Phichith of Laos in the first round.
Thailand’s world No. 40 Panitchapon Teeraratsakul, who received a bye in the first round, will then await the Malaysian in the quarter-finals.
If Jun Hao manages to beat the Thai, he could take on Singapore’s 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew for a place in the final.
