PETALING JAYA: Prove them wrong – that is the challenge from national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen.
He has thrown down the gauntlet to Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh to shed the tag of being second best to the Indonesians by delivering upset wins in the opening round of the Asian Championships at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center today.
Jun Hao faces world No. 4 Jonatan Christie while Justin takes on Alwi Farhan, who is coming off a strong run after finishing runner-up at the Swiss Open last month.
Jonassen acknowledged the tough task ahead but believes both players are well prepared after their recent Europe stint and their weak points had been addressed in training.
“From what I see in practice, the spirit is very high and the focus is very solid,” said Jonassen.
“Many of the things we discussed after the European tournaments are starting to be implemented, which is very positive.
“The Asian Championships will be an important test ahead of even bigger challenges, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they fare against these top Indonesian players.”
The Danish coach remains confident in his players’ abilities, even though the odds appear to be against them.
Jun Hao has previously caused upsets against Jonatan, although his recent form has been inconsistent.
He also lost to Jonatan at the Malaysian Open in January.
Justin, on the other hand, has struggled against Alwi, having lost three consecutive matches to him, including in the semi-finals of the SEA Games in Thailand last December.
However, Jonassen stressed that past records count for little, and he wants both players to translate their recent hard work into strong performances on court.
“Both players are up against higher-ranked opponents, so my benchmark is to see how well we can challenge them.
“I believe we have a chance, but we also understand their level.
“What matters is how we execute our plans and measure our progress. That’s crucial for long-term development.
“Of course, winning is always nice, but for me, it’s more about the process behind the results, whether we win or lose, because that’s where the most learning happens,” he added.
