Malaysia men’s singles shuttler Justin Hoh in action against Singapore’s Jason Teh Jia Heng in the first round of 33rd SEA Games at Thammasat University, Pathum Thani in Bangkok yesterday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
BANGKOK: Two years ago, men’s singles shuttler Justin Hoh was left bitterly disappointed after he was forced to miss the Cambodia SEA Games due to a serious injury.
Justin took eight months to recover and return to court after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Fast forward to the present and the 21-year-old has ended an encouraging campaign in the biennial Games with a bronze.
World No. 38 Justin gave Indonesia’s world No. 17 Alwi Farhan a run for his money before going down 10-21, 21-15, 14-21 in 69 minutes at Thammasat University in Pathum Thani yesterday.
The clash was a repeat of the Macau Open final in July but this time Justin managed to drag the match to a decider.
Justin said: “I was sad after I could not play in the SEA Games in 2023. So, I’m happy that I won bronze this time in my debut,” said Justin.
“This is not the ending I wanted though. I was hoping to go further.
“I’ve won two medals in my first SEA Games, so I have to accept this defeat and learn from my experience here.”
Justin was part of the team that won silver in the men’s team event. He had toppled Singapore’s world No. 21 Jason Teh in the first round in the individual event.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s campaign in the men’s singles ended after Leong Jun Hao also went down 18-21, 13-21 to Indonesian Moh Zaki Ubaidillah in a 44-minute semi-finals.
In the women’s singles, it was also bronze for Wong Ling Ching after she went down fighting 21-11, 18-21, 17-21 in 68 minutes to former world champion and home favoutite Ratchanok Intanon. Ling Ching still became the first Malaysian to win a medal in the women’s singles after S. Kisona captured gold in 2019.
