KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning Asian junior champion Leong Jun Hao is just a match away from a podium finish at the World Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
The 18-year-old boys' singles shuttler, however, does not want to stop there.
On Thursday, fourth-seeded Jun Hao – who is Malaysia’s sole remaining representative in the boys' singles event – saw off France's Leo Rossi 21-16, 21-17 in the fifth round to reach the quarter-finals.
Jun Hao will play another Frenchman, Christi Popov, on Friday.
"I'm enjoying a good run here, so I don't want to stop. I think I'm motivated because our Malaysian squad this year is pretty strong.
"I haven't played Popov before, so I cannot underestimate him. My target is to win, so that is the only thing that matters now," he said when contacted.
Meanwhile, in the girls’ singles fifth round, 2015 champion Goh Jin Wei also marched into the last eight stage.
The Kuala Lumpur Sea Games (KL2017) gold medallist defeated Indonesia's Choirunnisa Choirunnisa 21-15, 21-19 and will play Thailand's Chananchida Jucharoen next.
Teammate Eoon Qi Xuan, however, was not as lucky, after being shown the exit by top seed Pattarasuda Chaiwan of Thailand, who won 21-6, 21-8.
Also through to the quarter-finals are mixed doubles Ng Eng Cheong-Toh Ee Wei, who defeated Ruttanapak Oupthong-Chasinee Korepap of Thailand 21-17, 21-18 in the fourth round.
The Malaysians play Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti of Indonesia next.