Former Asian junior champion Leong Jun Hao may be the lowest ranked among Malaysia's men's singles for the Thomas Cup Finals, but he believes he stands a chance of making the starting line-up.
The 22-year-old, who is set for his third straight Thomas Cup Finals, in Bangkok from May 8-15, hopes that his good record in the team event will help convince the coaches to hand him a start in the third singles.
Jun Hao has earned himself the "team event specialist" tag as he is still unbeaten in all his six matches in the senior team competition to date.
He was part of the team that played in the 2018 and 2020 Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok and Aarhus, and also the 2020 and this year's Badminton Asia Team Chamionships (BATC) in Manila and Shah Alam respectively.
He has yet to drop a single game as he scored some upsets over the likes of higher-ranked Kenta Nishimoto of Japan in Aarhus last year and H. S. Prannoy of India at the 2020 BATC.
In Shah Alam two months ago, Jun Hao also saved Malaysia the blushes when he delivered the third and winning point to overcome a gutsy Japan second stringers 3-2 during the group stage.
"For sure I know that I won't be a regular starter," said Jun Hao who is ranked behind Lee Zii Jia, Liew Daren, Ng Tze Yong and even Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin.
"But I do hope that my good record in team event would help me earn a start in some way. Of course, the decision is in the hands of the coaches.
"As a team member, I just have to be on standby to be called upon. I'm always ready and up for the challenge.
"If I get fielded for the third singles, I will treat it like it's my first match. It's important that I do not get carried away by my record although I am really keen on keeping the record intact."
Jun Hao can certainly be relied upon in Malaysia's potential top of the table clash with Japan in Group A, with the latter set to throw in Nishimoto in the third singles again.
Jun Hao will also be a good option in a possible match-up with Indonesia, given that he has also beaten their third-ranked singles Sheshar Hiren Rhustavito.