The Only Way Is Up, Boy

The Only Way Is Up, Boy - Keep him single-minded: Leong Jun Hao became the third Malaysian to win the Asian Junior Championships on Sunday. Inset: National singles head coach Datuk Misbun Sidek does not want Jun Hao to end up like some of the other talented juniors who faded into oblivion in the past.

Keep him single-minded: Leong Jun Hao became the third Malaysian to win the Asian Junior Championships on Sunday. Inset: National singles head coach Datuk Misbun Sidek does not want Jun Hao to end up like some of the other talented juniors who faded into oblivion in the past.

  

KUALA LUMPUR: National singles head coach Datuk Misbun Sidek has promised to groom Asian junior champion Leong Jun Hao into a world beater.

Misbun does not want Jun Hao to end up like some of the other talented juniors who faded into oblivion in the past.

In Jakarta on Sunday, Jun Hao defeated Bai Yupeng of China at the Asian Junior Championships to become the third Malaysian champion in the series. Zulfadli Zulkiffli was the first Malaysian to achieve the feat in India in 2011 and Soo Teck Zhi was triumphant in Sabah in 2013.

“I want to put right the transition of a junior to senior ranks. We will focus our attention on all the juniors, including Jun Hao. I’ll make sure our panel of coaches will ensure no one is left out.

“I’m happy with Jun Hao’s achievement but it shouldn’t be the end. He’ll get a specialised programme. We’ll tap his full potential and give him opportunities,” said Misbun.

Misbun, who rejoined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) on July 1, admitted that there were flaws concerning the transition of a junior to senior ranks in the past.

“When a junior wins a title he becomes a star at the Bukit Jalil Sports School. But the problems start when he joins the national team.

“They are ranked at the bottom in the senior team. Some of them don’t get the deserved attention.

“We’ll change that. The juniors need specialised training, especially in the first two years when they join the senior team.

“Jun Hao is 18 now. He should be challenging the world-class players by 20.

“I’ll use the same approach for the other juniors.”

Misbun says Malaysia have an advantage because they still have three-time Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei to inspire the younger generation of players.

“Our juniors look up to him. The good news is that the juniors can learn from him during training. All of them are training together anyway,” said Misbun.

Chong Wei was in the shadows of senior Wong Choong Hann for some time before he finally defeated the latter for the first time en route to the national title in 2002.

Since 2002, none of the juniors have beaten the 34-year-old Chong Wei in local or international tournaments.