The world No 26 went down to Taiwan’s Lee Chia Hao 21-18, 20-22, 8-21 in a 54-minute match at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Chia Hao is ranked eight spots below Jun Hao in the world rankings.

Jun Hao has struggled to find top form this year, losing in the opening rounds of the India Open, German Open, Badminton Asia Championships, and Malaysia Masters prior to today’s defeat.

He was also eliminated in the second round of the Malaysia Open and All England Open.

The ongoing slump, marked by frequent early exits and losses to lower-ranked opponents, has become a defining narrative for Jun Hao at a time when the Badminton Association of Malaysia has reportedly warned him over disciplinary issues.

Last year, Jun Hao was a first-round casualty in 12 of the 21 tournaments he joined.