Jun Hao creates another upset, Zii Jia struggles at Kumamoto Masters

PETALING JAYA: National shuttler Leong Jun Hao created another upset at the Kumamoto Masters in Japan by overcoming Japan’s world No 11 Koki Watanabe 21-10, 16-21, 21-13 to reach the quarter-finals.

Yesterday, world No 31 Jun Hao shocked 17th-ranked Lakshya Sen of India in the first round.

Jun Hao will now face either Japan’s second seed Kodai Naraoka or Toma Junior Popov of France in the last eight of the BWF Super 500 tournament at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium.

Having suffered early exits in his last three tournaments — the China Open, Arctic Open, and Denmark Open — Jun Hao seems to have regained his old form.

However, world No 7 Lee Zii Jia had to struggle to defeat Taiwan’s unseeded Su Li Yang in three games to advance to the quarter-finals.

The independent shuttler lost 19-21 in the first game before regaining his composure to win the next two games 21-8, 21-16 in the second round.

The 26-year-old, who returned from an ankle injury last month, had earlier struggled to overcome his compatriot and world No 50 Justin Hoh, winning in three games 21-16, 12-21, 21-17.

Zii Jia will next meet either Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke or Indonesian fourth seed Jonatan Christie in the quarter-finals tomorrow.