Shenzhen: Malaysia’s men’s singles coach Yogendran Khrishnan has called for an even more formidable performance from Leong Jun Hao after the player’s impressive “giant killer” run at the Kumamoto Masters in Japan.
World number 31 Leong Jun Hao reached the final of the BWF Super 500 Kumamoto Masters before falling to China’s world number nine, Li Shi Feng, 21-10, 21-13 on Sunday.
As he prepares for the China Masters, which begins tomorrow, Yogendran, who resumed his coaching role on November 1, acknowledged that Leong Jun Hao’s performance in Japan deserved praise.
“Before coming to Japan, he had a solid preparation, and I would say the level of play he displayed was commendable.”
“So at the China Masters, we hope he not only maintains the same quality of play but improves further.”
“The tournament in Japan has definitely boosted Jun Hao’s confidence. He now has a better understanding of his game and knows how to execute it effectively,” said Yogendran.
However, the coaches should be cautious not to put too much pressure on a young and rising player like Leong. Rather than publicly raising expectations, they should maintain a low profile, focus on refining his skills, and only set public expectations after he secures a major title.
At the BWF Super 750 China Masters, Leong Jun Hao is set to face Japan’s world number 33, Takuma Obayashi, in the first round.
Interestingly, the Kuala Lumpur native could potentially meet compatriot Lee Zii Jia in the quarterfinals, should both players advance in the tournament, which offers a total prize pool of $1.15 million (RM5.14 million).
