PETALING JAYA: National men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao (pic) faces a stern test at the upcoming Japan Open as he starts his campaign against Taiwan’s Chi Yu-jen when the competition begins on Tuesday in Tokyo.
The 26-year-old is Malaysia’s sole representative in the men’s singles in Japan, and the world No. 30 will be on guard against his world No. 19 opponent at the Super 750 tournament.
It will be the seventh meeting between them, with each having won three times.
Their most recent match-up came at the German Open in February, with the Taiwanese shuttler taking the win after a three-game clash.
For Jun Hao, it will be the perfect opportunity for him to showcase his progress after his second-round exit at the Super 1000 Indonesian Open earlier this month.
Jun Hao will be hoping to at least reach the second round in Japan, which would mark his best result of the year after failing to make the quarter-finals in any tournament so far.
However, if he manages to clear his first-round hurdle, he could face a tougher test against Christo Popov if the Frenchman takes down China’s Weng Hongyang in their opener.
Meanwhile, women’s singles shuttler K. Letshanaa will face South Korean Kim Ga-eun in the opening round, while compatriot Wong Ling Ching takes on India’s PV Sindhu.
The 22-year-old Letshanaa has been in good form this year, finishing third at the Indonesian Masters in January and reaching the Malaysian Masters quarter-finals in May.
In the men’s doubles, Soh Wooi Yik and new partner Man Wei Chong will start their campaign against Taiwan’s Lee Fang-chih-Lee Fang-jen, while Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing take on China’s Chen Boyang-Liu Yi.
Women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will begin their run against Taiwan’s Hsu Yin-hui-Lin Jhih-yun, while Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting face South Koreans Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee.
New mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Clarissa San will also meet another Taiwanese pair in Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fan, as Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin take on Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara.
