KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao has sharpened up for the World Championships following his training sessions with Anders Antonsen and the Danish national team in Copenhagen.
National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen said world No. 25 Jun Hao, have been having match play with Denmark’s world No. 2 Antonsen since Aug 18.
“Yes, Anders is here, and our players have had different types of training sessions with him,” said Jonassen.
“It has been three really solid days of high intensity training with varied drills and match play.
“We have received what we have looked for, which makes it important for us moving forward.
“Still two days left and more to gain from this week. The players are in good spirit, tired of course, but have gone all out and taken this opportunity very seriously. Many good observations and tips to bring back home.”
The fact that Jonassen is Denmark’s former head coach, while Antonsen was also his protege, has ensured Jun Hao received regular sessions with Antonsen and also world No. 18 Rasmus Gemke, who has also qualified for the World Championships, as a final tune-up. They will continue training until today.
The high-intensity sessions will be helpful, as Jun Hao faces a testing tournament in Paris.
He has a comfortable first-round match against Switzerland’s world No. 148 Tobias Kuenzi, but faces a tough second-round against Japan’s world No. 14 Kenta Nishimoto, and a victory would likely pit him against Taiwan’s world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen in the last 16.
Antonsen, whose best achievement was second place in Basel in 2019, is looking determined to secure the elusive world title in Paris.
The quality training and match play sessions in Copenhagen should give Jun Hao the confidence boost to overcome the tough early rounds and book a dream quarter-final clash against Antonsen in Paris.
Justin will return home after the short training stint in Copenhagen.
Women’s singles shuttler K. Letshanaa is also in Copenhagen and has been sparring with world No. 19 Line Kjaersfeldt, world No. 26 Mia Blichfeldt, world No. 28 Line Christophersen, and world No. 32 Julie Jakobsen in her preparation for the Paris showpiece.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
