Kuala Lumpur: Leong Jun Hao acknowledges that Malaysia’s national singles head coach, Kenneth Jonassen, has played a significant role in shaping his game, giving him the flexibility to explore new strategies and improve his performance on the international stage.
The World No. 26 shuttler emphasized that while not many drastic changes have been made under Jonassen’s guidance, the Danish coach has allowed him to experiment with more diverse playing styles.
“Everything is going well, and we are working together as a team. I hope this continues to progress positively,” Jun Hao said after a training session at the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Academy.
“I don’t think he changed everything, but he has given me more options, which allows me to add something new to my game.”
Debut at the All England Open
Leong Jun Hao is set to make his debut appearance at the All England Open, one of the most prestigious Super 1000 badminton tournaments, taking place from March 11-16 at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.
The 25-year-old remains focused on taking one match at a time as he prepares for the biggest tournament of his career.
“So far, preparations have been going well. I just want to maintain my performance and get ready in the best way possible. Of course, I feel excited because the All England is a huge tournament, and this will be my first time playing in it,” he shared.
Recent Performances & BAMTC Experience
So far in 2024, Leong Jun Hao has participated in three BWF World Tour events, with his most recent outing at the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships (BAMTC) in Qingdao, China, last month.
Unfortunately, Malaysia suffered back-to-back group stage defeats to Hong Kong and Indonesia, failing to reach the quarterfinals.
Despite the setback, Jun Hao remains optimistic, believing his continued progress under Jonassen will help close the gap between himself and the world’s top players.
Stay tuned for more badminton news and updates on Leong Jun Hao’s journey at the All England Open! 🏸🔥
