Leong Jun Hao’s campaign at the Japan Open came to an abrupt and disappointing end after he was soundly beaten by defending champion Alex Lanier in the first round.
The world No. 24 Malaysian shuttler was hoping to spring a surprise against the in-form Frenchman but was completely outclassed, falling 12-21, 14-21 in just 40 minutes at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
The loss marked the end of Malaysia’s men’s singles challenge in the tournament, with Jun Hao being the country’s sole representative.
“He never got comfortable,” said national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, who couldn’t hide his frustration with the lackluster display.
“Jun Hao lacks the consistency to handle this kind of pace and precision. Lanier played with zero mistakes and put pressure on him in almost every rally.”
Jonassen admitted the defeat was alarming, especially with the BWF World Championships fast approaching next month in Paris.
“I hate losing, but what’s worse is being unable to challenge top players. Today I got some answers — we have a long way to go.”
Jun Hao has struggled to find form this year, with his quarter-final finish at the Singapore Open being his only standout result. In other tournaments, he has repeatedly suffered early-round exits.
Jonassen pinpointed two key areas the 26-year-old must urgently address:
- Pace of Play – “He needs to raise his speed and handle the tempo top players bring.”
- Point-by-Point Focus – “Understanding the value of each point is crucial. If you don’t make them uncomfortable, they’ll dominate you.”
Jun Hao’s next and final opportunity to prove his readiness before the World Championships comes at the China Open in Changzhou, which kicks off next Tuesday. The pressure is now firmly on.
