Jun Hao meets expectations as first singles to deliver for Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Leong Jun Hao led by example to give Malaysia a perfect start in Group C in the Sudirman Cup.

World No. 26 Jun Hao battled hard to beat world No. 62 Arnaud Merkle 22-20, 21-19 to help the team secure a 5-0 win over France at the Xiamen Fenghuang Gymnasium in China yesterday.

It was a confidence boosting win for the 25-year-old, who was also appointed captain of the team in this edition’s tourney along with women’s doubles player Pearly Tan.

Jun Hao has a huge responsibility in the competition as he is Malaysia’s top men’s singles player in the absence of world No. 9 Lee Zii Jia.

Singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, who had emphasised the importance of a strong start, was happy to see Jun Hao and the others win.

“The match against Arnaud unfolded like how I expected it to,” said Jonassen.

“It wasn’t always pretty but most importantly a strong finish from Jun Hao in both games and he was able to adjust a few things throughout the match.

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“Any win will always make a difference and for sure this one, as being part of a team, can do something positive for a player.

“Minor adjustments can add more to the overall game plan.

“All in all, it was a solid performance from the team,” added Jonassen.

Jun Hao’s teammates Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (men’s doubles), Goh Jin Wei (women’s singles) Pearly-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles) and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon (mixed doubles) contributed the other points in the tie.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin had brushed aside Mael Cattoen-Lucas Renoir 21-11, 21-9 to get the team off to a good start.

Jin Wei then doubled Malaysia’s lead by beating Leonice Huet 21-10, 21-19.

Pearly-Thinaah defeated Margot Lambert-Camille Pognante 21-13, 21-10 while Soon Huat-Shevon swept past Gregoire Deschamp-Elsa Jacob 21-7, 21-19.

Meanwhile, said Sze Fei: “This is our first time playing in the Sudirman Cup and it’s quite exciting to be part of the team,” Sze Fei told the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

“We are still adapting to the court conditions and we still have a few things to improve on.

The team now are almost assured of a spot in the quarter-finals as they play Australia today and should again have no problems claiming another victory.

The top two teams in the group will reach the last eight.

Malaysia’s third and last group match will be against Japan on Thursday.

RESULTS

Group B: South Korea bt Canada 4-1.

Group C: Malaysia beat France 5-0 (Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani bt Mael Cattoen-Lucas Renoir 21-11, 21-9; Goh Jin Wei bt Leonice Huet 21-10, 21-19; Leong Jun Hao bt Arnaud Merkle 22-20, 21-19; Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bt Margot Lambert-Camille Pognante 21-13, 21-10; Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie bt Gregoire Deschamp-Elsa Jacob 21-7, 21-19); Japan bt Australia 5-0