Kuala Lumpur lad Leong Jun Hao – the national Under-21 champion – marched into the final in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships with a stunning come back 19-21, 21-14, 23-21 win over Thailand’s third seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The Malaysian toiled for 75 minutes for the win which puts him in line for Malaysia to end a four-year drought after Soo Teck Zhi last won in 2013. Sixth seeded Jun Hao’s win over the Thai took his head to head count to 2-0.
“I beat him in Thailand last year. But today’s match was far tougher and it was a change in my game plan that brought me the win. I hope I can recover for the final tomorrow (Sunday),” said Jun Hao, who hails from Setapak.
Jun Hao will face unseeded Bai Yupeng of China in the final. The Chinese ended the run of fourth seed Chen Chi Ting of Chinese Taipei with a rather easy 21-13, 21-13 win in 45 minutes.
“This will be my first meeting with Yupeng but I am determined to go all the way to win the title for Malaysia.”
“Beating Kunlavut has boosted my confidence. I am prepared for a tough fight.”
Coach Kwan Yoke Meng pleased with Jun Hao’s performance, said: “I hope he can recover in time after the gruelling match against Kunlavut.”
Malaysia, however, lost two other semi-finals encounters – when 17-year-old Eoon Qi Xuan fell by the wayside in the girls’ singles. The Taiping lass, who was runners-up to Goh Jin Wei in the recent Asean Schools championships in Singapore, went out 11-21, 17-21 to fourth seed Han Yue of China.
“To win the bronze medal in my second attempt is an achievement for me after I lost in the second round in Bangkok last year,” said Qi Xuan.
Han Yue will meet Thailand’s third seed Pattarasuda Chaiwan in the final. The Thai upset Singapore’s second seed Yeo Jia Min in three games 15-21, 21-17, 21-17 in 63 minutes.
Malaysia were also beaten in the boys’ doubles. Chia Wei Jian-Ng Tze Yong, who knocked out top seeds Krishna Prasad Garaga-Dhruv Kapila of India 23-21, 21-11 in the quarter-finals could not keep the momentum and fell to China’s Di Zhijian Wang Chang 21-23, 13-21 in 30 minutes.
RESULTS (SEMI-FINALS)
Men’s singles
Leong Jun Hao (Mas) beat Kunlavut Viditsarn (Tha) 19-21, 21-14, 23-21
Bai Yupeng (Chn) beat Chen Chi Ting (Tpe) 21-13, 21-13
Men’s doubles
Di Zijian-Wang Chang (Chn) beat Chia Wei Jie-Ng Tze Yong (Mas) 23-21, 21-13
Lee Sang-min-Na Sung-seung (Kor) beat Shin Tae-yang-Wang Chan (Kor) 21-18, 10-21, 21-19
Women’s singles
Pattarasuda Chaiwan (Tha) beat Yeo Jia Min (Sgp) 15-21, 21-17, 21-17
Han Yue (Chn) beat Eoon Qi Xuan (Mas) 21-11, 21-17
Women’s doubles
Liu Xuanxuan-Xia Yuting (Chn) beat Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto-Ribka Sugiarto (Ina) 21-16, 21-17
Baek Ha-na-Lee Yu-rim (Kor) beat Agatha Imanuela-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (Ina) 21-18, 21-12
h Ee Wei (Mas)
Mixed doubles
Wang Chan-Kim Min-ji (Kor) beat Fan Qiuyue-Liu Xuanxuan (Chn) 14-21, 22-20, 21-15
Na Seung-sung-Seong Ah-yeong (Kor) beat Dhruv Kapila-Mithula U.K. (Ind) 21-8, 21-11
Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (Ina) beat Man Wei Chong-Tan Seuh Jeou (Mas) 21-18, 19-21, 21-17
Kang Min-hyuk-Baek Ha-na (Kor) beat Chang Yee Jun-Pearly Tan Koong Le (Mas) 21-18, 21-14
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