KUALA LUMPUR: National No. 1 Leong Jun Hao made a strong statement by outlasting rising compatriot Justin Hoh in a close all-Malaysian second-round clash at the Hong Kong Open on Thursday.
The world No. 23 prevailed 21-11, 15-21, 21-18 in an hour-and-six-minute thriller to secure only his second World Tour quarter-final appearance of the year, following his run at the Singapore Open.
It was also the first time Jun Hao has beaten his junior in three official meetings, after losing to Justin at the Malaysia International Challenge in 2022 and the Syed Modi International in India in 2023.
For Jun Hao, the result reinforces his position at the top of the national men’s singles hierarchy.
Justin, meanwhile, has been steadily making waves as the world No. 39 and Malaysia’s second-highest ranked player behind Jun Hao, after Lee Zii Jia’s ranking drop through injury.
Jun Hao will next face either China‘s Li Shi Feng or Japan’s Koki Watanabe for a place in the semi-finals.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
