Leong Jun Hao has acknowledged that his 2026 season has not gone according to plan, but the Malaysian men's singles player is determined to block out outside noise and focus on turning his fortunes around in the months ahead.
The world No. 26 has endured a frustrating first half of the year, struggling to make significant progress in tournaments and falling short of the standards he set for himself. Despite the disappointing results, Jun Hao remains confident that he can finish the season on a stronger note.
Rather than allowing criticism to affect his mindset, the 26-year-old has chosen to concentrate on his own development. Recent scrutiny surrounding both his performances and off-court disciplinary discussions has increased the pressure on the national shuttler, but he insists his priority remains improving his game and regaining consistency.
Jun Hao's results this year have been below expectations, with the Malaysian yet to progress beyond the second round of a tournament. However, there were encouraging signs at the Indonesian Open, where he showed improved form before losing to France's world No. 8, Alex Lanier.
Source: NST
The former Asian junior champion believes returning to his best level will require patience and persistence. While he admits the process will not be easy, he remains committed to putting in the necessary work on the training court to rebuild confidence and consistency.
With no tournaments scheduled for the next few weeks, Jun Hao is using the break to focus on preparation ahead of a busy stretch that includes the Japan Open and China Open in July. Rather than setting specific result-based targets, his main objective is to produce more consistent performances and establish a stronger foundation for the remainder of the season.
As Malaysia continues its search for reliable men's singles contenders behind Lee Zii Jia, Jun Hao knows the coming months could be crucial for his career. For now, his message is clear: ignore the critics, trust the process and focus on becoming the player he believes he can be.
