KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Leong Jun Hao was a big letdown as he crashed out in the first round of the Orleans Masters in France yesterday.
The 24-year-old, seeded fourth in the Super 300 tournament, was beaten 17-21 21-8 21-17 by South Korea's world No. 51 Jeon Hyeok Jin.
It was a disappointing outcome as world No. 36 Jun Hao was expected to take advantage of the absences of big guns who are all playing in the All England, held simultaneously in Birmingham this week.
In his previous World Tour start at the Thailand Masters, Jun Hao who is the third highest-ranked Malaysian men's singles, also lost to unheralded S. Sankar Muthusamy of India.
Jun Hao will now turn his attention to redeeming himself in the Swiss Open and Spain Masters in the next two weeks.
Professional shuttler Cheam June Wei was left carrying the nation's challenge in the men's singles after he brushed aside Israel's Misha Zilberman 21-13, 21-13.
June Wei will face Hyeok Jin next for a place in the last eight.