Sabasports Match Preview
Syed Modi India International 2023
2023-11-28 to 2023-12-03
Source: REUTERS/AMIT DAVE
The 2023 Syed Modi India International is scheduled to take place in
India from November 28th to December 3rd. Based on the draw situation, it
appears that Malaysian players have been drawn against tough opponents in
several categories. For instance, in the women’s singles event, Kisona
Selvaduray will face the tournament’s No. 3 seed, Japanese player Aya Ohori, in
the first round. In the men’s doubles, the Malaysian pairing of Boon Xin Yuan
and Goh V Shem will take on the tournament’s No. 1 seed, the Japanese pair of
Akira Koga and Taichi Saito. In the women’s doubles, Cheng Su Hui and Carmen Ting
are set to face the tournament’s No. 8 seed, the German pair Linda Efler and
Isabel Lohau. Additionally, in the mixed doubles, Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin
will encounter the tournament’s No. 1 seed, the Japanese combination of Hiroki
Midorikawa and Natsu Saito. Given the apparent disparity in strength, the
Malaysian players may face a challenging situation and the possibility of being
eliminated in the first round.
Indeed, there is an intriguing match-up in the first round of the
men’s singles. It will be a Malaysian Derby as Leong Jun Hao takes on Hoh
Justin. Leong Jun Hao, who is 24 years old, was selected for the Malaysian
men’s team roster for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. Although he did not
have the opportunity to compete at the Games, he showcased good form by winning
the men’s singles event at the 2023 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Masters in Malaysia
earlier in November. Based on stats, Leong Jun Hao has a winning rate of 65.9%
in 2023, indicating his strong performance. He is considered a contender for
“No. 3” in Malaysian men’s singles.
He Shouwei, a 19-year-old rising star from Malaysi. In April 2022, he
achieved the top rankings in both men’s singles and men’s doubles in the BWF
World Youth Ranking. He is considered a crucial focus for the Malaysian
Badminton Association and has received high praise from the media, being seen
as a leader of the next generation of Malaysian badminton players. After
dedicated efforts, He Shouwei was eventually selected for the Malaysian
national badminton team in December 2022. He showcased his potential by winning
the men’s singles championship at the 2023 Uganda Badminton International
Championship. However, upon entering adult competitions, his lack of experience
became apparentand he faced challenges in crucial moments, making low-level
mistakes. Additionally, He Shouwei had previously suffered a serious injury—a
ruptured Achilles tendon—before his promotion to the national team. This injury
may have affected his confidence, resulting in slower movements and the need
for further mental strengthening.
Liang Junhao certainly possesses several notable advantages against
Hoh Justin: quick and powerful backcourt attacks; skill in pushing short balls;
strong sense of follow-up and pressure; age advantage and competition
experience. Considering all these factors, Liang might get an easy win in this
Malaysian Derby.