KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s contingent has sprung another surprise at the Indonesia Open, this time courtesy of national men’s singles player, Leong Jun Hao, who ousted home favourite, Jonatan Christie, in today’s first-round action.
On paper, Jonatan seemed to hold a formidable advantage, having recently clinched both the All England and Asian Championship titles, in addition to being seeded third in the tournament.
Moreover, Jonatan enjoyed unwavering support from local fans at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta.
In contrast, Jun Hao, ranked 32nd in the world, made his tournament debut as a replacement player after another shuttler withdrew.
However, despite the favourable odds, Jonatan faltered throughout the match, committing several unforced errors.
After 62 minutes of intense competition, victory ultimately favoured Jun Hao with a hard-fought scoreline of 21-12, 16-21, 21-12.
“I’m really happy with my win, even if my opponents might have been focusing on Olympic preparations. Every player goes through ups and downs, but I’m proud of how well I performed and that I came out on top.
“My confidence and consistency have been improving steadily, especially since the Thomas Cup. I’m feeling more confident than ever and giving my best in every match. I hope to keep up this momentum going forward.
“The crowd here has been amazing. Even when they were cheering for Jonatan while I was leading in the second set, I stayed focused.
“And in the deciding set, despite the pressure, I kept reminding myself to stay calm and focus on one point at a time,” said Jun Hao in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
This triumph marks a significant breakthrough for Jun Hao, particularly considering his recent victory over another Indonesian men’s singles player, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, in the second round of the Singapore Open last week.
Jun Hao now awaits the outcome of the match between Chou Tien Chen and Li Chun Yi to determine his opponent in the second round tomorrow. – June 5, 2024