Leong Jun Hao Exits Early at Asian Championships Following Slow Start

Leong Jun Hao’s troubles with race starts flared up again at the Asian Championships in Ningbo, China on 8 April. The recent Malaysian player was shocked to see such an early exit from the tournament. There, the duo lost in the first round to a pair of players from Malaysia. His challengers solidified a straight-game win in the contest. They cruised in victories of 21-18 and 21-16, closing it out in only 37 minutes.

Leong Jun Hao had won against Taiwan’s world No. 13, Li Chun-yi on two previous occasions. He was not able to win that battle and orchestrate the same success in their third matchup. He had breakthrough resilience, particularly at the midway point of the second game. He had several bigger obstacles to overcome—his opponents.

The unseeded Malaysian pair of Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin Rumsani pulled off the biggest upset in men’s doubles. They hugely exceeded our wildest expectations! They delivered a strong performance by defeating Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi, comfortably advancing to the second round of the tournament.

At the same time, Wong Li Ching put in a stunning effort but was narrowly beaten by her Indonesian opponent Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi. It was an exciting and tightly-played match, with Wong ultimately falling 17-21, 21-16, 17-21 in a great battle. This defeat, surprising and sad as it was, underscored the depth of the competition in this tournament and the immense challenges these players face.

In a more promising note for Malaysia, Goh Jin Wei progressed to the second round with a convincing victory against Taiwan’s Sung Shuo-yun. Her opponent Goh Jin Wei came out firing, taking the first game 21-16 and never looking back, showing mastery of her craft and confidence at the game’s highest level.

As the tournament progresses, supporters and experts will be on the lookout for stars such as Goh Sze Fei, Nur Izzudin Rumsani, and Goh Jin Wei. Their skills, artistry, creativity and strategies are going to wow you! Leong Jun Hao’s early exit serves as a reminder of the increased competition at the Asian Championships. This can be an important lesson learned and reminder for all players involved.