Young Malaysian badminton player Justin Hoh made a memorable and impactful debut at the prestigious Sudirman Cup 2025, helping Malaysia secure a convincing 4-1 victory over Australia in a Group C encounter held at the Xiamen Olympic Sports Centre, China, on Tuesday.
This win followed Malaysia’s dominant 5-0 sweep over France the previous day, ensuring their spot in the quarter-final stage of the elite mixed team competition. The Malaysian squad, brimming with young talent and seasoned names, is now well-poised to make a deep run in the tournament.
The spotlight, however, was on 21-year-old Justin Hoh, who showed incredible maturity and composure in what was his first-ever appearance in a Sudirman Cup match. Facing Shrey Dhand of Australia, ranked 302nd in the world, Justin — currently ranked 46th globally — kept his cool and executed a confident, clinical performance to win the match 21-9, 21-15 in just 36 minutes.
Justin with A Calm Head in a High-Stakes Debut
Although it was his debut on one of the biggest stages in team badminton, Justin did not let the pressure faze him. Speaking after the match, he admitted to feeling excitement rather than nerves ahead of stepping onto the court.
“Thіѕ is mу fіrѕt tіmе соmреtіng іn the Sudirman Cuр, аnd іt’ѕ such аn hоnоr tо bе part of thе nаtіоnаl tеаm аt a wоrld-сlаѕѕ event lіkе this,” Juѕtіn shared іn a роѕt-mаtсh іntеrvіеw wіth thе Bаdmіntоn World Fеdеrаtіоn (BWF). “I wаѕ eager tо play and contribute tо thе team’s еffоrt. It mеаnѕ a lоt tо wіn a роіnt for Mаlауѕіа.”
Despite cruising through the first game with a dominant 21-9 score, Justin encountered a tougher challenge in the second game. He had built a commanding 17-6 lead, but his opponent mounted a brief comeback, narrowing the score to 18-14. Many young players might have panicked, but Justin remained composed, sticking to his strategy and closing out the match with focus and precision.
Adapting Under Pressure
Reflecting on the match, Justin admitted that conditions in the arena posed certain challenges, particularly the gusty indoor wind, which affected shuttle control.
“The wind inside the stadium was quite strong and I had some difficulty adjusting at first. My opponent, Shrey, didn’t make it easy. He kept pushing and fought hard even when he was behind — credit to him for showing great spirit,” Justin explained.
As the match grew tighter in the second game, Justin began making a few unforced errors. Fortunately, with guidance from the sidelines, he was able to regain his composure. “My coaches gave me some tactical advice during the interval, and I made a few adjustments. That really helped me get back into rhythm and close the game,” he said.
Rising Star for Malaysia
At just 21 years of age, Justin Hoh is quickly emerging as one of Malaysia’s most promising badminton prospects. Known for his agility, quick reflexes, and tactical discipline, he has steadily climbed the rankings over the past year and now appears ready to take on bigger responsibilities within the national setup.
His performance in Xiamen not only earned Malaysia a valuable point but also sent a strong signal that he can hold his own under pressure and on the international stage.
With Malaysia already securing a place in the quarter-finals, national fans will be eager to see whether Justin continues to feature in key matches and possibly takes on even stronger opponents in the later rounds.
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