KUALA LUMPUR: Newly crowned KL Masters champion Leong Jun Hao has been gaining momentum in recent weeks.
If he keeps at it, the national men's singles player might do better than his top 32 target this season.
On Wednesday, the world No 38 clawed back from a game down to see off Singapore's Jason Teh 13-21, 21-9, 23-21, and check into the second round of the Super 300 Korea Masters.
The former Asian junior champion will face Finland's Kalle Koljonen next for a place in the quarter-finals.
Badminton Association of Malaysia coaching director, Rexy Mainaky told Timesport it's not impossible for Jun Hao to finish on a high this year.
"I like how Jun Hao has been playing, even since the Arctic Open last month before he lost to Lee Zii Jia in the quarter-finals, because he couldn't finish the match.
"In last week's KL Masters, even in the absence of some top players, Jun Hao still did well in the final, against an opponent (Lee Chia Hao) who has beaten top 10 players before.
"The moment is with Jun Hao. If he keeps himself grounded and focused, he can go far in Korea.
"I know his target is to finish this season in the world top 32, but with a couple more tournaments remaining, I think he can do even better than that," said Rexy.
Apart from winning the KL Masters crown, Jun Hao also won the National Championships in July.
Another Malaysian men's singles player, Soong Joo Ven, also cleared the first round.
The independent shuttler, who has been struggling with injuries in recent months, also fought tooth and nail before defeating Kazakhstan's Dmitriy Panarin 21-18, 22-24, 21-16.
Joo Ven is up against homester Jeon Hyeok Jin in the next round.