Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao has come under scrutiny after reports that he missed several training sessions at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara, leading to a final warning from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

After receiving a final warning from one of the biggest names in Malaysian badminton, the 26-year-old has finally broken his silence. 

Jun Hao admitted that he did miss several training sessions at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara. He confirmed the claim made by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) performance committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei.

But he also said there was more to the story. Jun Hao insisted he had valid reasons for skipping practice, though he chose not to share the details.

"I did miss training, and there were reasons for it. I do not wish to comment further on the matter," Jun Hao said.

He spoke with the media during a test court session at the Unifi Arena in Bukit Jalil on Monday. The session was held ahead of the Malaysian Masters, which begins on Tuesday.

Earlier, Chong Wei spoke out about Jun Hao's behavior. He named the shuttler as one of the players dealing with disciplinary issues and confirmed that BAM had handed him a final warning.

National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen even suggested that Jun Hao be cut from the squad. But Chong Wei is willing to give him one more shot.

"His discipline has been an issue because he has not been focused in training. Sometimes he does not turn up. If he misses training because of injury, I can accept that," Chong Wei said.

He made the consequences crystal clear. "But if it is a disciplinary issue and he intentionally skips training, then there is no excuse. I have already told him that if I hear again that he did not attend training, he can pack his bags and leave on his own. I do not even need to issue a letter anymore," Chong Wei added.

Jun Hao's Decline in Performance

The off-court issues have not been the only concern. Jun Hao's form on the court has also taken a hit in recent months.

His performances have dropped noticeably. The most notable example came during the Thomas Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark, just three weeks ago.

He suffered a tough loss to Finland's Joakim Oldorff in that tie. It was a result few saw coming from a player of his level.

Luckily, his teammates picked up the slack. Malaysia bounced back to seal a 4-1 win in the group stage match.

But the loss raised eyebrows. It also added more weight to the concerns Chong Wei and the coaching staff have been voicing.

Now, Jun Hao has a lot to prove. The Malaysian Masters could be his chance to silence the critics and turn things around.

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Written by

Sahil Prashar

Edited by

Sahil Prashar