Kuala lumpur:<Text>

National singles player Leong Jun Hao is hopeful for a resurgence in his badminton career as the national coaching style shifts back to an Asian approach.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Jun Hao admitted to struggling with the European training methods introduced by Kenneth Jonassen, the national singles coaching director, last year. These challenges reflected in his performance, with Jun Hao achieving only two quarterfinal appearances out of 19 tournaments in 2025.

"From young, I have gotten used to what I have (the Asian training style) and it may be better for me to go back to what I have done previously," Jun Hao shared with reporters following a court test session for the 2026 Malaysia Open at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, today.

Jun Hao's career highlights include winning the 2022 Indonesia Masters, the 2023 Super 100 Malaysia, and finishing as runner-up at the 2024 Japan Masters. He has set his sights on defeating China's Wang Zheng Xing in his opening match at the Malaysia Masters Open, which kicks off tomorrow.

Jonassen reportedly decided to revert to an Asian coaching style after national badminton players struggled to adapt to the European method he implemented at the Badminton Association of Malaysia early last year.