KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 - National men's singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao ended his losing streak to compatriot Lee Zii Jia in style at the Hong Kong Open today.
The World number 23 - who has lost three times to Lee, including at the 2023 Arctic Open when they last met - marked his first-ever win over the world number 47 with a 21-16, 21-16 opening-round victory at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
Lee began aggressively in the opening game with his trademark powerful smashes, but he fluffed his line by sending too many shots out to give Leong a 21-16 win.
Despite Lee turning on the screw in the second game, Leong managed to maintain the momentum and seal victory.
His second-round opponent will be either Malaysia's Justin Hoh or eighth-seeded Toma Junior Popov of France.
Meanwhile, Hoh ensured an all-Malaysian second-round clash with Leong after a stunning win over the eighth-seeded Popov.
The unseeded athlete produced an assured performance to dispose of the Frenchman 21-12, 21-17 in 43 minutes.