Bangkok: The 19-year-old Malaysian player Leong Jun Hao extended his surprise run at the Thailand Masters by upsetting No. 4 seed and 36-year-old Hu Yun of Hong Kong 21-15, 20-22, 21-7 in the quarter-finals of Thailand Masters on Friday.
Leong who won the Asian junior title in 2017 expressed his excitement after the match.
“I played my best, and I am happy I notched up the victory against Hu Yun,” said Leong.
“I will have to maintain my momentum playing against Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand tomorrow.”
“My new year’s resolution is to become a World’s top 20 by the end of this year,” added Leong.
Malaysia’s independent player Daren Liew also confirmed his ticket to the semi-finals by outlasting Suppanyu Avihingsanon of Thailand 21-15, 21-18. Liew will play No. 2 seed Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia for a spot in the final.
In addition to Leong and Liew, Rio Olympic men’s doubles silver medalists Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong of Malaysia also advanced to the semi-finals by overcoming Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh-Pakin Kuna Anuvit 25-23, 21-16. The Malaysian pair will meet Thai pair Tinn Isriyanet-Kittisak Namdash on Saturday.
Also through to the semi-finals were No. 5 seeds mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying, seeing off Sawan Serasinghe-Setyana Mapasa 21-11, 21-13 of Australia in the quarter-finals to meet Nipitphon Phuangphuapet/Jongkolphan Kititharakul from the host country in the final four.
In the women’s competition, No. 4 seed Soniia Cheah showed great resolve to thwart Japan’s Natsumi Shimoda 21-16, 21-6 to take on No. 1 seed Nitchaon Jindapol of Thailand.
