KUALA LUMPUR – National men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao has described his recent Thomas Cup outing as the biggest setback of his career, following a string of disappointing performances.
The 25-year-old, who led Malaysia as first singles, was unable to contribute any points during the tournament — a result he acknowledged fell short of expectations.
When asked if the campaign marked his lowest moment, Jun Hao responded candidly: “Yes.”
Despite the setback, he is determined to move forward and rebuild his form ahead of upcoming competitions.
“Personally, I feel my performance this time was not good enough. There were definitely some shortcomings,” he said when met at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
“However, there are more tournaments coming up. My focus now is to regain my form as quickly as possible and reassess my performance.”
Meanwhile, national men’s doubles player Tee Kai Wun took positives from the campaign, highlighting the valuable experience gained despite Malaysia’s early exit.
He said the opportunity to partner with different players throughout the tournament helped broaden his exposure and adaptability on court.
“It’s a good experience for me because I got to play with many partners. From there, I was able to learn and adjust to different playing styles,” he said.
Malaysia’s Thomas Cup campaign ended in the quarter-finals after a 3-0 defeat to China. – May 3, 2026