PETALING JAYA: Leong Jun Hao will be chasing his first BWF World Tour quarter-final berth of the season when he takes on China’s Weng Hongyang in the second round of the China Open tomorrow.
The Malaysian faces a daunting challenge as he will not only have to overcome the world No. 18, but also the partisan home crowd at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre.
Hongyang heads into the match brimming with confidence after stunning world No. 3 Anders Antonsen of Denmark 15-21, 21-17, 22-20 in the opening round yesterday.
Jun Hao has not reached the quarter-finals of a BWF World Tour event since the Hong Kong Open last September, where his run ended with a defeat to China’s Li Shifeng.
He booked his place in the second round after beating India’s H.S. Prannoy 21-10, 21-14 yesterday, avenging his loss to the Indian at the Japan Masters last November.
“I played much better today. I think I was able to adapt to the court conditions and I was more consistent.
“I think the difference was my consistency and speed,” said Jun Hao.
Also through to the second round were men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik, who beat fellow Malaysians Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Kang Khai Xing 21-12, 21-15.
The victory came as a timely boost after their first tournament together ended in a first-round exit at last week’s Japan Open.
They will next face either Taiwan’s Chiu Hsiang-chieh-Wang Chi-lin or Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki Nishi.
Meanwhile, Goh V Shem and his South Korean partner Choi Sol-gyu advanced after receiving a walkover when home pair He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu withdrew.
They will face either India’s Hariharan Amsakarunan-M.R. Arjun or China’s fourth seeds Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang in the second round.
Independent pair Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong also progressed after beating fellow Malaysians Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King 25-23, 21-17.
They will next take on either world No. 1 pair Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae of South Korea or Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan.
It was disappointment, however, for Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai, whose first tournament together ended with a 17-21, 19-21 defeat to Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman-Reza Pahlevi.
