PETALING JAYA: Although Justin Hoh’s journey in the Asian Championships came to a halt in the second round against defending champion Jonatan Christie of Indonesia, the young player didn’t leave empty-handed.
National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen viewed the match against the world No. 4 in Ningbo, China on Wednesday, as a valuable learning experience, which he believed would help Justin improve and grow for future challenges.
It was, in many ways, a contest between David and Goliath, with Justin, ranked No. 48 in the world, facing off against Jonatan, a player of exceptional skill and experience, in his debut at the tournament.
Adding to the pressure, the 20-year-old was Malaysia’s sole representative in the men’s singles after Leong Jun Hao and Ng Tze Yong were eliminated in the first round.
Although Justin fought valiantly, his lack of experience proved to be the deciding factor, with the Indonesian securing a 21-13, 21-19 victory in 46 minutes.
“I believe there are many positive takeaways and lessons from today’s match. Overall, we managed to keep up with the pace and made the necessary adjustments to really challenge in the second game.
“It was his first time playing against a top-eight player, so it was important to learn about that level of play and how their style impacted his own. This tournament has provided a great opportunity for growth and learning,” said Jonassen.
Meanwhile, Tze Yong, who made his competitive return after a year-long break, felt it was a miracle to be able to play again.
He had previously struggled with a back injury and underwent multiple surgeries, along with a long recovery process.
Despite not being as agile as before, Tze Yong remains optimistic after his 9-21, 12-21 loss to 2023 world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the first round. He feels his condition is improving, with the pain from his previous injury gradually fading.
‘I feel pretty happy. I can still go back to the court, and I don’t have any pain. The most important thing is that I can still return to the court and I’m not bothered by the injury.
“Now I should be able to play at 60 to 70% from my previous condition,” said Tze Yong.
