KUALA LUMPUR: Rising star Justin Hoh believes that the Sarawak Malaysia Games (Sukma) is the perfect stage for him to cement his reputation as one of the country's top men's singles badminton players.
The former national under-21 champion is billed as one of the favourites to win the gold medal in the biennial event.
The Sukma badminton competition will be held in Sibu, starting this Saturday with the mixed team event, followed by the individual events beginning on Aug 21.
Justin, 20, who will be making his second Sukma appearance, said he is eager to win the gold in Sarawak.
However, he is wary of the threats posed by other competitors, most of whom are his training partners in the national squad, such as Perak's Eogene Ewe and Penang's Ong Zhen Yi.
"I see a good chance for me to win gold, but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself," said Justin.
"Most of my challengers are my teammates like Eogene and Zhen Yi. We train together every day and know each other's game well.
"They are strong opponents, and I can't afford to be overconfident."
In the KL Sukma two years ago, Johor's Ng Tze Yong won the men's singles gold medal after defeating fellow national player Leong Jun Hao of the Federal Territories in the final.
Justin did not compete in the men's singles event then, but participated in the mixed doubles, where he and his partner fell in the quarter-finals.
World No. 69 Justin has already claimed two titles this season - the Saipan International Challenge in the Northern Mariana Islands last month and the Slovenia Open in May.