Indie June Wei bumps into BAM’s Jun Hao as they seek breakthrough

Player unaffiliated Cheam In the second round of the Vietnam Open in Ho Chi Minh City today, June Wei and Leong Jun Hao of Vietnam have set up an intriguing matchup.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), where June Wei was making excellent progress, let her go in February.

His former teammate Jun Hao, who has also been battling to establish himself at the BAM, where Commonwealth Games silver medalist Ng Tze Yong is already well ahead of him, has failed to make an impact as an independent player.

After settling for silver behind Tze Yong in the Malaysia Games (Sukma), Jun Hao said he is eager to advance in Vietnam.

We used to train together, so we are quite familiar with one other’s games. It will thus be a tight match, according to Jun Hao.

“I’m hoping to preserve the victory I earned against him in the Malaysia Masters qualification rounds from (in July),”

For the Vietnam Open, I haven’t established any precise goals. I’ll deal with this one match at a time.

A first-round bye was given to Soong Joo Ven, another independent player and the seventh seed.

Other BAM backup players, meanwhile, yesterday sealed their spots in the second round.

Aidil Sholeh Sadikin battled hard before defeating Le Duc Phat of Vietnam 18-21, 21-18, 21-11 to advance to today’s second-round matchup against Weng Hongyang of China, who is regarded as the next Lin Dan.

Although playing him will be difficult, Aidil promised to give it his all.

Naren Shankar of India was easily defeated by Kok Jing Hong (21-10, 21-16), and she will now face Meiraba Luwang Maisnam of India.

Ong Ken Yon defeated fellow countryman Lim Chong King 30-28, 21-13 to earn a matchup with Indian Farog Sanjay Aman in the second round.

However, Shaqeem Aiman’s career was over after losing against Lee Chia-hao of Taiwan 19-21, 21-16, 21-15.