KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s men’s singles shuttler, Leong Jun Hao, has a golden opportunity to cement his status as a giant slayer at the Kumamoto Masters, where he will face the tournament’s toughest challenge yet, Li Shi Feng from China in tomorrow’s final.
The 25-year-old continued his dream run in Japan, defeating world number six from Indonesia, Jonatan Christie, in a thrilling comeback to claim a 10-21, 21-18, 22-20 victory in today’s semi-final.
From the very first round, Jun Hao seemed possessed by a relentless spirit, knocking out Commonwealth Games gold medalist Lakshya Sen.
He then went on to defeat two top Japanese stars, starting with world number 11, Koki Watanabe, in the second round, followed by world number four, Kodai Naraoka, in the quarter-finals.
Therefore, as a player ranked only 31st in the world, his success in reaching the Kumamoto Masters final is historic, especially considering this is the first Super 500 final of his career.
“After so long, I finally get to enter the final of a high-level tournament. For now, my focus is on recovery,” said Jun Hao in a post-match interview with SpoTV.
“In the second game, I had nothing to lose. I played point by point, fought for every rally and didn’t give him any easy points.
“I made it difficult for him, and from there, I gained my momentum. (Eventually), I got it right and won.”
Jun Hao’s final hurdle, however, is formidable. Seventh-seeded Shi Feng, who defeated Olympic and world champion Viktor Axelsen in another dramatic semi-final, has proven his mettle throughout the tournament.
The Chinese star also holds a psychological advantage, having beaten Jun Hao in all three of their previous encounters this year, including at the Indonesia Open, Malaysia Masters, and Thomas Cup.
However, with the momentum Jun Hao is building at the moment, it is not impossible for him to tame the player and aim for his third title on the BWF Tour, after the Indonesia Masters and Kuala Lumpur Masters. — November 16, 2024