Malaysian shuttler Leong Jun Hao made a commanding start to the Yonex India Open 2025, securing a sensational victory over China’s Li Shi Feng in the tournament’s opening round. In an intense match that lasted three grueling sets, Leong showcased exceptional skill and determination to defeat the 5th seed with a scoreline of 18-21, 21-17, 21-17. This marked a career milestone for the Malaysian, as it was his first triumph over Li Shi Feng in four encounters.
The victory is particularly significant for Leong, who admitted this was also his maiden win against the Chinese. Speaking exclusively to Fieldvision, in the mix zone, a beaming Leong credited his preparation and tactical acumen for the breakthrough performance. “This win means a lot to me because this is the first time I had beaten him in four games. I have never won a game before against him, I managed the game completely, and I feel great about myself,” he shared.
The match began with Li Shi Feng, known for his consistent and powerful forehand play, dominating the first set. Leong struggled to find his rhythm early on, committing unforced errors and failing to maintain patience in rallies. However, the Malaysian made a remarkable turnaround in the second and third sets, employing a mix of tactical brilliance and relentless focus.
Leong’s strategy revolved around countering Li’s strengths, particularly his forehand dominance. By drawing Li out of position and varying his pace with net play, Leong disrupted his opponent’s rhythm. This approach, combined with improved patience and precise shot placement, allowed Leong to gain the upper hand in the decisive moments of the match.
Reflecting on his strategy, Leong noted, “He is a tough opponent with all-around forehand strokes. In the first game, I was not patient enough, but in the second and third games, I tried to be more patient, and my planned strokes worked well today.”
With this win the Malaysian shuttler has announced his arrival and has made sure he isn’t a pushover for the tournament. The Malaysian will face Weng Hongyang of China in the second round which is scheduled on 16th January.
Important Results as on Day 1
Men’s singles
Toma Popov (Fra) bt Kenta Nishimoto (Jpn) 20-22, 21-10, 21-14
Kiran George (Ind) bt Yushi Tanaka (Jpn) 21-19, 14-21, 27-25
Leong Jun Hao (Mas) bt 5-Li Shi Feng (Chn) 18-21, 21-17, 21-17
Women’s singles
Yeo Jia Min (Sin) bt Thuy Linh Nguyen (Vie) 19-21, 22-20, 21-5
Gregoria Tunjung (Ina) bt Line Christophersen 25-27, 21-12, 21-11
Ratchnok Intanon (Tha) bt Nozomi Okuhara (Jpn) 21-13, 21-15
Women’s doubles
Ashwini Bhat K/Shikha Gautam (Ind) bt Jackie Dent/Crystal Lai (Can) 22-20, 21-18
Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn/Sukitta Suwachai (Tha) bt Amrutha Prathumesh/Sonali Singh (Ind) 19-21, 21-15, 21-12
Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min (Chn) bt Rashmi Ganesh/Sania Sikkandar (Ind) 21-8, 21-9
Arisa Igarashi/Ayako Sakuramoto (Jpn) bt Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand (Ind) 23-21, 21-19
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