Jakarta: Malaysia’s junior shuttler Leong Jun Hao was down 20-22 in the second set of the Asian Junior Championships against Bai Yupeng of China, but managed to pull himself back from the brink to claim the Asian Junior Title after a 21-6, 20-22, 21-17 win.
The 18-year-old Leong needed 1 hour and 14 minutes to see off the 17-year-old Bai at the Jaya Raya Sports Hall Training Center, Jakarta on Sunday.
In the semifinal that was held on Saturday, Leong who was seeded 6th in the tournament, defeated Thailand’s Kunvalut Vitidsam 19-21, 21-14, 23-21 before advancing to the final.
His victory ended Malaysia’s four year wait to win the title. Soo Teck Zhi was the last Malaysian who won the tournament in 2013.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also congratulated Leong for his victory.
“Congratulations Leong Jun Hao on winning the badminton Asian Junior Championships!,” the prime minister wrote on his Twitter page.
In addition to Leong’s gold medal, Malaysia also won three bronze medals through girls’ singles player Eoon Qi Xuan, Chia Wei Jie-Ng Tze Yong in boys’ doubles, and in the mixed team event.
