Kuala Lumpur: As the 2025 Hong Kong Open draws near, one of the most highly anticipated showdowns is brewing between two of Malaysia’s finest men’s singles players—Lee Zii Jia and Leong Jun Hao. The pair is set to face off in a high-stakes first-round battle that could determine who currently holds the crown as Malaysia’s top shuttler.
Despite being close friends off the court, both players are ready to put friendship aside once they step into the arena. Ranked No. 23 in the world, Leong Jun Hao currently outranks Lee Zii Jia, who sits at No. 47. However, past matchups clearly favor Lee Zii Jia, who has a 3-0 winning record over Leong Jun Hao, including a victory in the 2023 Arctic Open quarterfinals—where he eventually went on to clinch the title.
Both athletes are aiming for redemption after underwhelming performances at the World Championships in Paris. Lee Zii Jia, still recovering from an ankle injury, suffered a first-round exit to South Korea’s Jeon Hyeok Jin. Leong Jun Hao, on the other hand, bowed out in the second round after a tough match against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto.
Speaking about the upcoming clash, Leong Jun Hao acknowledged the challenge ahead.
“On court, it’s every man for himself. I respect Zii Jia’s talent, and he’s definitely not an easy opponent. But I’ll give it everything I’ve got,” said Jun Hao.
While some speculate that Lee Zii Jia’s recent injury might give Leong Jun Hao an edge, the latter refuses to dwell on it.
“Every court has its own feel. Whether or not he’s fully recovered, it’ll all come down to strategy and execution on the day,” he added.
Other Malaysian Highlights at Hong Kong Open 2025
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Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik: The world No. 2 men’s doubles pair enter the tournament as top seeds and will begin their campaign against England’s Ben Lane/Sean Vendy. A potential all-Malaysian final could be on the cards if they meet No. 2 seeds Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin in the finals.
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Pearly Tan/M. Thinaah: Fresh from their World Championships silver medal, the defending Hong Kong Open champions will face Taiwan’s Chang Chin Hui/Yang Ching Tun in the opening round. A rematch against China’s Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning may await them in the final.
