Justin Hoh: Top facts about the Malaysian badminton player
The former world junior No. 1 had his first full season in 2024 after suffering an Achilles tear the previous year. Here's what to know about the 20-year-old from Kuala Lumpur.
Badminton
It’s been two years since former badminton world junior No. 1 Justin Hoh joined the senior circuit.
The Malaysian took a game off compatriot and Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia at last week’s Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024, flashing some of the potential that unearthed what was once a promising career before it was derailed by a serious injury.
Find below the A-B-Cs on the 20-year-old Hoh, one of the more intriguing prospects on the tour.
Malaysian shuttler Justin Hoh eyes to keep up with the big boys in 2025.
Justin Hoh: Beginnings
Hoh was born on 20 April, 2004, in Kuala Lumpur and took up badminton when he was seven. His first taste of glory was at the Asian Youth Championships in 2019. There, he won the under-17 boys’ singles crown.
After the competition freeze from the global pandemic unfroze, Hoh in May 2022 captured Malaysia’s under-21 national championship. The following month, he won his first two senior titles at the Bonn International and Croatia Open.
In November that year, Hoh was promoted to the seniors.
Justin Hoh: Return from injury setback
In March 2023, Hoh was picked to represent his country for the South East Asian (SEA) Games, after winning the Uganda International for his fourth senior title the previous month.
But in April, a month before the SEA Games opened, he tore his left Achilles tendon in practise and was ruled out for almost nine months.
Hoh returned to competition in November at the Syed Modi International in Lucknow, India.
Justin Hoh: Back to top level badminton
Hoh missed the 2024 Asia Team Championships in January due to a knee injury, but otherwise managed to stay on the court during the season.
He helped Malaysia to a bronze medal at the Thomas Cup in April, and added the Slovenia Open and Saipan International titles to his credit.
The challenge for Hoh in 2025 and beyond remains on the BWF World Tour, where he has not had the results.
In five tournaments in 2024, his best outing was at the Taipei Open where he lost in straight sets to Chou Tien Chen in the quarter-finals.