Singapore Badminton Scene

Discussion in 'Professional Players' started by Loh, Jul 2, 2012.

  1. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Badminton: 10 things to know about Singapore's Loh Kean Yew who beat World No.1 Kento Momota
    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew won the Hylo Open men's singles final on Nov 8 after his opponent Lee Zii Jia conceded the match due to a back injury.PHOTO: LOHKEANYEW/INSTAGRAM
    • PUBLISHED
      NOV 8, 2021, 9:10 AM SGT
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    SINGAPORE - National badminton player Loh Kean Yew claimed the biggest scalp of his career as he shocked Japan's world No. 1 and defending world champion Kento Momota 21-7, 17-21, 21-19 in 69 minutes on Thursday (Nov 25) to advance to the Indonesia Open quarter-finals.

    The world No. 26 will face Denmark's 21st-ranked Hans-Kristian Vittinghus at the Bali International Convention Center on Friday. (Loh beat Vittinghus 21-9, 21-4 )

    Loh, 24, has enjoyed an incredible rise in recent months.

    Just two weeks earlier, he captured the biggest title of his career after his opponent in the US$320,000 (S$432,000) Hylo Open in Germany, after beating Malaysia's world No. 8 Lee Zii Jia, who retired.

    The Singaporean was leading 19-21, 21-13, 17-12 at the Saarlandhalle in Saarbrucken when Lee, the All England champion, conceded the match after suffering a back injury.

    Here's what you need to know about Loh:

    1. Two titles since July

    In the four European tournaments he has taken part in since the Olympics in July, he has captured two titles, including Sunday's win at the Hylo Open.

    The first was at the US$15,000 (S$20,250) Oct 13-17 Dutch Open, where he upset India's world No. 21 Lakshya Sen, the top seed and defending champion, 21-12, 21-16 in the final.

    But Sunday's win is a far greater achievement, his first triumph at the Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 500 level, the fourth tier on the sport's professional circuit.

    2. Most memorable moment came in 2019
    Loh's most memorable achievement came in 2019 when, as an unheralded qualifier, he sensationally defeated Chinese great Lin Dan to claim the US$150,000 Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters in Bangkok.

    The Chinese, who retired in 2020 at the age of 37, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport. He is a two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion.

    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew trains six days or 30 hours a week, with double sessions on four days which include court, gym sessions and runs. PHOTO: LOHKEANYEW/INSTAGRAM

    3. He was born in Malaysia
    Loh was born on June 26, 1997, in Penang, Malaysia, and is the youngest of four sons. His parents are still living in Penang.

    4. Older brother also plays badminton
    His older brother Kean Hean, who also represents Singapore on the badminton circuit and is a doubles specialist, had arrived in Singapore in 2009, enrolling at Montfort Secondary School.

    5. Kean Yew arrived in S'pore in 2010
    Kean Yew arrived a year later at age 13 after receiving a scholarship from the Singapore Sports School. He was not thrilled about the transition initially.

    "When the time came for me to move here, I was angry because my friends were all in Malaysia. But my mother already bought the ticket to send me here, so what to do?," he told The Straits Times.

    "So slowly, I started to make friends and adapt to life here."

    6. Badminton as a profession
    He quit his studies at Republic Polytechnic to pursue a professional career in badminton.

    7. Honoured to wear the Singapore flag
    He and Kean Hean later became Singapore citizens, with Kean Yew saying: "I have had no regrets. After spending so many years training and developing in Singapore, I made many new friends and was ready to be a Singapore citizen, serve national service and represent this country.

    "I am honoured to wear the Singapore flag on my chest."

    But NS was not without its challenges and he noted that "sometimes my 'feel' will be gone'". Kean Hean later revealed that Kean Yew would rush to extra night training sessions after booking out from the army camp to train when he could.

    8. Five SEA Games medals
    He owns five SEA Games medals. One individual silver from the 2019 edition, where he lost the final to Malaysia's Lee, and four bronzes: individual (2015), team (2015, 2017, 2019).

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: Singapore's Loh claims Hylo Open title after Malaysian opponent Lee retires[/paste:font]
    Olympics: I want to create history in Tokyo with a medal, says S'pore shuttler Loh Kean Yew[/paste:font]

    9. Hard work is non-negotiable
    In Loh's book, hard work is non-negotiable. He trains six days or 30 hours a week, with double sessions on four days which include court, gym sessions and runs. During competitions, he also devotes time analysing opponents, trying to find weaknesses to exploit.

    He explained: "There are players in the top 10 who don't have much talent but are there because they have discipline, grit and consistency; there are other more talented players who are not there for various reasons. There are too many good players out there regardless of their rankings and I cannot be complacent."

    10. Social media followers
    His Instagram followers almost doubled to more than 110,000 after his win in Germany and he has over 5,600 on Facebook
     
    #1741 Loh, Nov 26, 2021
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2021
  2. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    LOH OF LOSING LUGGAGE TO HIGH OF WINNING
    News | BWF World Tour (bwfbadminton.com)

    SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021
    TEXT BY DIANNE PIERRE | BADMINTONPHOTO

    [​IMG]

    Arriving in Germany ahead of the HYLO Open 2021, Loh Kean Yew felt his trip wasn’t going quite to plan from the get-go. The airline he was travelling with lost his luggage.

    “I didn’t have any of my equipment, then I went on to win the final. So yeah, it’s quite interesting,” smiled Loh in Bali, where the Indonesian badminton festival will begin with the DAIHATSU Indonesia Masters 2021 on Tuesday.

    [​IMG]
    Loh (right) was on his way to winning when Lee Zii Jia retired with an injury in the HYLO Open final.
    “The first two days before the tournament, I didn’t have my rackets. I was borrowing rackets from friends when testing the practice and main hall courts. The shirt was my coach’s and super huge and loose. That’s how I was training,” laughed Loh as he looked back on the German tournament fondly.

    It was the first HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500 title for the 24-year-old; he astounded even himself after knocking out the No.1, No.2 and No.5 seeds en route to victory.

    “From the first match I’ve been surprising myself. Beating Chou Tien Chen and then Rasmus Gemke and Lakshya Sen to reach the final,” revealed Loh of his enthrallment at being the underdog who rose to the top.

    The crown in Germany has seen Loh move up eight places to No.31 on the BWF World Rankings. It leaves him in good stead and confident ahead of the Indonesian tournaments, but Loh is not allowing himself to get carried away.

    “There’s a lot of pressure on me,” Loh admits. “But it comes from within as I’ve always wanted to be in the top 10. My ranking is still far from where I want to be. And I will need to overcome some mental barriers to better myself.”

    Sparring with the likes of Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in Dubai earlier this year has worked wonders for the promising Singaporean.

    “Training with Viktor helped,” he admits. “It has definitely contributed to where I am today. But even before that, I’ve been working hard on my fitness, including leading up to the Olympics.”

    [​IMG]
    Loh was invited by Olympic champion and friend Axelsen to spar with him in Dubai.
    The Indonesia Masters kicks off the three back-to-back Asian leg tournaments in Nusa Dua, Bali. It will be followed by the Indonesia Open 2021 and conclude with the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2021.

    Loh opens his Masters campaign against Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tzu We
     
  3. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    News | BWF World Tour (bwfbadminton.com)
    [​IMG]
    INDONESIA OPEN: LOH’S HIGH HALTS MOMOTA RUN


    THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021
    TEXT BY LLOYD GREEN | BADMINTONPHOTO


    By self-admission Kento Momota was not at his best; fatigue clearly affecting his play. But Loh Kean Yew recorded his first victory over the world No.1, and one of the biggest of his career, to progress to the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Open 2021.

    The Singaporean’s 21-7 17-21 21-19 result spices things up in the top half of the draw with four unseeded players set to battle it out with top eight positions for the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals on the line.



    Loh said post-match: “This is only one win. I’ve taken down other top players before but this is the first time I have defeated the world No.1.

    “It is not about a one-time thing though. I need to go back and refocus and prepare for tomorrow. It’s my first time in a quarterfinals of a Super 1000 so I’m going to go in and give it everything I have.”

    Momota was sluggish early, showing evidence that he was not quite right. Loh, the Singaporean prodigy fresh off his HYLO Open 2021 success, was making the most of the opportunities the Japanese afforded him.

    At 9-2 up in the second, Loh looked like running away with it in straight games. However, as Momota dug deep and churned out one extended rally after another, the world champion began to gain some ascendency. Two stretches of eight and five consecutive points helped him level things at 1-1.

    The decider became a game of cat and mouse; most points influenced or determined by deft net play. Momota led 11-6 at the interval, but was by no means convincing in his play. You could sense Loh just had to keep the dial turning to make things interesting.

    And that he did. The 24-year-old was more clinical, more accurate, and slightly fresher at the end to close it out 21-19.

    [​IMG]
    Both men were exhausted after the 69-minute duel.
    “I’m feeling tired. It’s definitely a long game for me. Anyone can tell that he is tired but it was a long game for me,” said Loh.

    “I got into the match faster than him and I think he was trying to put himself back into the match, which he did significantly in the second game.

    “But you can see that Momota is tired. He’s not playing at his fullest potential. I just tried my best to take him down, that’s something I needed to overcome and I did that today. So, I’m happy very about that.”

    Momota said he was intent on pushing on despite his ailing physical condition: “Because I started early in the tournament, I’m very tired. I lost my focus on the match. I made the decision to carry on playing because I didn’t want to lose. That’s why I put up such a fight in the second game.

    “In the second game, I wasn’t trying anything new or different, I was just trying to play my game. I don’t want to redo the match again. I just want to rest now,” he said.

    Loh faces Hans-Kristian Vittinghus in the quarters after the Dane extended his head-to-head count against Kanta Tsuneyama to 4-0. Vittinghus outpointed the in-form Japanese 10-21 21-18 21-13 in 54 minutes.
     
  4. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    INDONESIA OPEN: MASTER VERSUS APPRENTICE
    News | BWF World Tour (bwfbadminton.com)

    [​IMG]

    SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021
    TEXT BY LLOYD GREEN | BADMINTONPHOTO

    When Loh Kean Yew received a message to attend an invite-only training camp in Dubai with Olympic gold medallist Viktor Axelsen, little did he think three months later he’d be facing his idol and sparring partner cum-mentor in the final of the Indonesia Open 2021.

    But upon defeating Rasmus Gemke in today’s semifinal 21-14, 21-7 the Singaporean achieved just that setting up a dream date with the world No.2 Dane. However, there’ll be no love lost on the court tomorrow according to Loh.

    “Oh definitely, tomorrow we are out to kill each other for sure,” he said tongue-in-cheek.

    “It’s definitely surprising though and I’m happy now but as always I can’t be too happy because the battle isn’t over. I need to go back and focus for tomorrow.”

    Loh has been in imperious form this week holding off a spirited Kento Momota in round two before breezing past Hans-kristian Solberg Vittinghus and now Gemke without breaking too much of a sweat.

    It follows his impressive victory at the HYLO Open 2021 in Germany last month.

    But it’s no coincidence that his sharp improvement has coincided with his stay and blossoming friendship with Axelsen.

    “I just went to Dubai to do my best in training and learn as much as possible from him. We have been in contact this week. We talk and he’s said ‘good luck’ to me before my matches.

    “I sometimes play with his daughter Vega. She doesn’t always want to play with me, but I will play with her,” he laughed.

    There’s more riding on tomorrow’s decider though than getting one up over his idol. With victory, Loh will sneak into the top eight qualifiers for the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2021.

    “I don’t want to think about that. It’s very close already. I don’t want to add any unnecessary pressure. If I get it, I get it, if not, then okay. I’m going to go in, do my best and fight all the way.”
     
  5. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew to meet world No. 2 Viktor Axelsen in Indonesia Open final
    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew to meet world No. 2 Viktor Axelsen in Indonesia Open final, Latest Others News - The New Paper (straitstimes.com)
    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew beat Rasmus Gemke 21-14, 21-7 in the semi-final on Nov 27, 2021.PHOTO: EPA-EFE
    Nov 27, 2021 10:55 pm
    • National shuttler Loh Kean Yew set up a date with Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in the final of the Indonesia Open after a solid 21-14, 21-7 win over Rasmus Gemke in the semi-final on Saturday (Nov 27) evening.

    Loh, the 24-year-old world No. 26, will play world No. 2 Axelsen at the Bali International Convention Centre on Sunday.

    If he wins the Super 1000 tournament, Loh will also earn a spot in the year-end BWF World Tour Finals, which would be a first for a Singaporean male player.

    There is added intrigue to the final as Loh had trained with Axelsen in Dubai for a month in August and September, a stint which has helped the Singaporean kick on to a fine run of form.

    The pair had met as recently as October, when Loh lost 21-19, 21-14 to Axelsen in the first round of the Denmark Open in Odense in 35 minutes.

    Axelsen had beaten Indonesia's Jonatan Christie 21-19, 21-15 in the other semi-final played earlier.
     
  6. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew loses to Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in Indonesia Open final
    [​IMG]
    National shuttler Loh Kean Yew lost to world No.2 Viktor Axelsen in the final of the Indonesia Open on Nov 28, 2021. PHOTO: BADMINTON PHOTO
    [​IMG]
    Sazali Abdul Aziz
    Correspondent
    • PUBLISHED
      38 MIN AGO
    FACEBOOKTWITTER

    SINGAPORE - In the end, it was one giant too many for national shuttler Loh Kean Yew to overcome as he lost 21-13, 9-21, 21-13 to world No.2 Viktor Axelsen in the final of the Indonesia Open on Sunday (Nov 28).

    Loh, the 24-year-old world No. 26, had beaten higher-ranked opponents - most notably world No. 1 Kento Momota - in his run to the final of the US$850,000 (S$1.16 million) Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 1000 event at the Bali International Convention Centre.

    But 27-year-old Dane Axelsen, who won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in August, proved too much for Loh to overcome, despite the Singaporean rallying to win the second game after losing the first.

    The loss ended Loh's hopes of becoming the first Singaporean male player to qualify for the season-ending BWF Tour Finals which takes place next week also in Bali. A win would have seen him take the place of Thai world No. 22 Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

    Still, his run in Bali is the best performance by a Singaporean male shuttler since Ronald Susilo's singles win at the Japan Open in 2004.

    The Japan Open has been a Super 750 event - one tier lower than the Indonesia Open - since the BWF's tournament tiers were introduced in 2018.

    Loh, who stands at 1.75m, had trained with the 1.94m Axelsen in Dubai for a month in August and September, and he seemed unfazed standing across the court from the giant Dane on Sunday.

    He held his own with a strong start in the first game, and was level at 6-6, but then faded for a spell and went on to lose 21-13. But Loh soon rediscovered his verve and stormed back to win the second game.

    In the deciding game, Axelsen started more aggressively and built up a 15-8 lead after a long rally, and went on to see out the match.

    Following his training stint in Dubai, Loh had kicked on to a fine run of form.

    The Indonesia Open was his third singles final in two months, after wins at the Super 100 Dutch Open in October and the Super 500 Hylo Open earlier this month.

    In recent weeks, he has also beaten a string of top players, most notably Momota, as well as Chinese Taipei's world No. 4 Chou Tien-chen, Malaysia's All England champion Lee Zii Jia (seventh), Taiwanese Wang Tzu-wei (11th), and India's Lakshya Sen (19th).

    #8Loh, 3 minutes ago
     
  7. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew loses to Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in Indonesia Open final
    [​IMG]
    National shuttler Loh Kean Yew (left) lost to world No.2 Viktor Axelsen in the final of the Indonesia Open on Nov 28, 2021.PHOTO: BADMINTON PHOTO
    [​IMG]
    Sazali Abdul Aziz
    Correspondent
    • PUBLISHED
      NOV 28, 2021, 6:36 PM SGT
    FACEBOOKTWITTER

    SINGAPORE - In the end, it was one giant too many for national shuttler Loh Kean Yew to overcome as he lost 21-13, 9-21, 21-13 to world No. 2 Viktor Axelsen in the final of the Indonesia Open on Sunday (Nov 28).

    Loh, the 24-year-old world No. 26, had beaten higher-ranked opponents - most notably world No. 1 Kento Momota - in his run to the final of the US$850,000 (S$1.16 million) Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 1000 event at the Bali International Convention Centre.

    But 27-year-old Dane Axelsen, who won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in August, proved too much for Loh to overcome, despite the Singaporean rallying to win the second game after losing the first.

    Loh said: "I wasn't patient enough throughout the game. I should have been more patient and kept some rallies going instead of trying to kill him… Against Viktor, it's risky."

    The loss ended his hopes of becoming the first Singaporean man to qualify for the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals next week, also in Bali. A win would have seen him take the place of Thai world No. 22 Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

    Singapore will be represented though, with Yeo Jia Min earning a spot in the women’s singles.

    Still, Loh’s run in Bali is the best performance by a local male shuttler since Ronald Susilo’s win at the Japan Open in 2004. That was a Super 750 event, one rung lower than the Indonesia Open, since the BWF’s tournament tiers were introduced in 2018.

    Loh, who stands at 1.75m, had trained with the 1.94m Axelsen in Dubai for a month in August and September, and he seemed unfazed standing across the court from the giant Dane on Sunday.

    He held his own with a strong start in the first game, and was level at 6-6, but then faded for a spell and went on to lose 21-13. But Loh soon rediscovered his verve and stormed back to win the second game.

    In the deciding game, Axelsen started more aggressively and built up a 15-8 lead after a long rally, and went on to see out the match.

    Following his training stint in Dubai, Loh had kicked on to a fine run of form.

    The Indonesia Open was his third singles final in two months, after wins at the Super 100 Dutch Open in October and the Super 500 Hylo Open earlier this month.

    [​IMG]
    Loh's run in Bali is the best performance by a Singaporean male shuttler since Ronald Susilo at the Japan Open in 2004. PHOTO: BADMINTON PHOTO

    In recent weeks, he has also beaten a string of top players, most notably Momota, as well as Chinese Taipei's world No. 4 Chou Tien-chen, Malaysia's All England champion Lee Zii Jia (seventh), Taiwanese Wang Tzu-wei (11th), and India's Lakshya Sen (19th).

    Loh, who earned US$28,900 (S$39,600) for his runner-up finish, said: "I haven't really reflected on the past week because I haven't had the time.

    "It has been a pretty good run but it was not as easy as it (sometimes) seemed.

    "Preparation was crucial. Before games, the whole day I was in my room, fighting my own battle mentally... in order to perform. That was the toughest part."

    Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) president Lawrence Leow said Loh and Yeo’s recent successes were “not a coincidence” but “a culmination of a robust business continuity plan at SBA”.

    He added: “We identified the players’ needs, considered our resources, deliberated on our options, and made good decisions in a specially curated training programme.

    The honours were shared in Bali on Sunday, with each title going to a different country.

    South Korea's An Se-young got the ball rolling with a 21-17, 22-20 win over Thai Ratchanok Intanon in the women's singles.

    Japan's Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida then edged out Indonesian women's doubles Olympic champions Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu 21-19, 21-19.

    In the mixed doubles, Thai top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai beat Japanese duo Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino 21-12, 21-13.

    The hosts enjoyed success in the men's doubles, with the top-seeded Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo getting the better of the unseeded Japanese pair of Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi 21-14, 21-18.
     
  8. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Badminton: S'porean Loh Kean Yew loses to world No. 2 Viktor Axelsen, finishes 2nd in Indonesia
    https://mothership.sg/2021/11/loh-kean-yew-indonesia-open-finals

    An outstanding performance for the season.

    Zi Shan Kow | [​IMG] November 28, 2021, 07:30 PM

    [​IMG]
    Singaporean badminton player Loh Kean Yew clinched second place at the Indonesia Open men's singles in Bali on Sunday, Nov. 28.

    A meeting between master and apprentice

    Loh, ranked world number 26, lost 13-21, 21-9, 13-21 to world number two and Olympic gold medallist Viktor Axelsen in the finals after a valiant match lasting 59 minutes.

    This isn't the first time Loh and Axelsen crossed paths.

    In August, 24-year-old Loh participated in a month-long training camp with Axelsen in Dubai, dubbing the match as a meeting between a master and an apprentice.

    Loh also faced and lost 21-19, 21-14 to Axelsen in October in the first round of the Denmark Open in Odense in a match that lasted just 35 minutes.

    As the runner-up of the men's singles event, Loh will bring home US$28,900 (S$39,600).

    Despite the loss, Loh has made history by being the first Singaporean to qualify for the final of a Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 1000 event.

    You can watch the highlights of the finals match here.

    "Making history"

    Singapore Badminton Association president Lawrence Leow congratulated both Loh and female shuttler Yeo Jia Min for their outstanding performance this season, and for "making history and earning their deserved places among world badminton’s elite".

    He was also the first ever Singaporean male to win a Superseries/Super 500+ event, taking home US$24,000 (S$32,400) in prize money.

    Loh was crowned champion at the Dutch Open in October, and then went on to win his first career BWF World Tour Super 500 title at the Hylo Open in Germany earlier in November.

    Enroute to the Indonesia Open finals, Loh also dealt an unexpected defeat to world number one Kento Momota.

    "I can attest to the many hours of toil our shuttlers put in, the many months they spend away from their families training and competing overseas," said Leow.

    "These last two years were especially tough as they had to also spend weeks in quarantine whenever they travelled...Kean Yew and Jiamin deserve all the credit for a fantastic season," added Leow.

    Having played multiple tournaments in Europe and then in Indonesia, Loh will be headed to Spain for the world championships in December.
     
  9. Yoji

    Yoji Regular Member

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    So he isnt going back to Singapore and then Spain right? Otherwise how is he going to train? and Singapore is considered medium risk right now.
     
  10. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew moves to career-high 20th in rankings, Yeo Jia Min is 17th
    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew (left) improved to a career-high 20th in the Badminton World Federation rankings while compatriot Yeo Jia Min also improved to a career-high 17th in the women's singles rankings.PHOTOS: BADMINTON PHOTO, KUA CHEE SIONG
    [​IMG]
    David Lee
    • PUBLISHED
      10 HOURS AGO
    FACEBOOKTWITTER

    SINGAPORE - As much as Loh Kean Yew loved being an underdog, he is ready to shed that tag and embrace his new status as championship contender.

    In the latest Badminton World Federation rankings released on Tuesday (Nov 30), the 24-year-old Singaporean improved to a career-high 20th. He was 41st just seven weeks ago.

    During this period, he won the lower-tier Dutch Open and the BWF World Tour Super 500 Hylo Open in Germany, and reached the final of the Super 1000 Indonesia Open last week. He also demonstrated his giant-slaying abilities by beating six players in the top 20, including then-world No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan.

    Loh told The Straits Times: "When I was the underdog, there were few expectations and I was upsetting opponents. Now, they are aware of me and they are going to come after me and analyse me up, down, left, right and centre.

    "It won't be easy handling this pressure, but it is a challenge I need to face and get used to, to get to the top."

    After he was knocked out of the Tokyo Olympics at the group stage in July, Loh had set himself intermediate targets of making the top 30, 20 and 10 en route to the ultimate goal of winning a medal at Paris 2024.

    And while he is confident about his talent, even he is surprised at his recent surge.

    "I know I'm capable of beating anyone, but I'm not consistent enough," said Loh. "That's why I didn't expect to make the top 20 so soon, I thought, 'Maybe I will be there in the first half of next year'. But of course, I'm happy about making such good progress and showing more consistency.

    "Now, the next step is to make the top 15 because narrowing the gap from here won't be easy."

    The world ranking includes up to 10 tournaments with the highest points earned over the last 52 weeks of competition. Higher-ranked players get invited to the top events on the tour that carry more ranking points and prize money. For example, a Super 1000 event assures the 16 first-round losers 3,000 points and US$850 (S$1,165).

    Loh explained how a higher ranking would benefit him, saying: "Being in the top 20 reduces the uncertainty in planning. Previously, I would sometimes be the first or second reserve and not be sent for those overseas competitions as a reserve, only to find out later on that someone had pulled out at the last minute but it was too late for me to go. Those are always frustrating.

    "I should also be able to be seeded for the Super 300 and 100 tournaments, which allows me to avoid other seeded players and increases my chances of progressing further."

    Loh Kean Yew expects future matches to be harder, despite recent positive results | THE BIG STORY

    Loh's string of eye-catching performances has led to a spike in his following on Instagram from around 50,000 pre-Olympics to more than 128,000 now. In these last two months, he has also made more than $80,000 in prize money pre-tax.

    He said: "I'm thankful for all the support and I'm sorry I cannot respond to every message like I used to. I haven't thought much about how to spend the money, but I will save most of it to buy an apartment in the future."

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    It is November but for a fast-rising Loh, it's the beginning of an exciting journey[/paste:font]
    Badminton: Yeo Jia Min becomes first S'porean to qualify for BWF World Tour Finals[/paste:font]
    While he is bummed at missing out on this week's US$1.5 million BWF World Tour Finals in Bali, where even first-round losers will take home a minimum of US$9,000, Loh has the week off competition to take stock of his progress and what he needs to do to improve ahead of the Dec 12-19 World Championships in Spain.

    To the point like his ferocious smashes, he said: "Fitness and patience.

    "Against Viktor Axelsen (in the Indonesia Open final), I was trying to kill him but I could not, and I could feel my legs were heavy. I will definitely step up my court fitness regimen after this season.

    "As for the World Championships, I will take it match by match and try to go as far as I can. Everybody will be up for it there."

    Meanwhile, compatriot Yeo Jia Min also improved to a career-high 17th in the women's singles rankings.

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: 10 things to know about Singapore's Loh Kean Yew who beat World No. 1 Kento Momota[/paste:font]
    The 22-year-old is looking forward to her debut as the first Singaporean to play in the Tour Finals after being drawn into Group B with Japan's world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi, South Korea's sixth-ranked An Se-young and Thailand's world No. 12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan.

    Despite being ranked lower than them, Yeo recorded wins against all three in 2019.

    Group A comprises India's P. V. Sindhu (seventh), Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong (10th), Germany's Yvonne Li (24th) and Denmark's Line Christophersen (27th).

    The World Tour Finals at the Bali International Convention Centre is the tour's season-ending tournament featuring the eight best singles and doubles performers in the calendar year.
     
  11. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Badminton: S'pore's Yeo beaten by Japan's world No. 3 Yamaguchi in Tour Finals debut
    [​IMG]
    Yeo Jia Min lost 21-11, 21-14 to Japanese world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi at the World Tour Finals in Bali on Dec 1, 2021.PHOTO: BADMINTON PHOTO
    [​IMG]
    David Lee

    • PUBLISHED
      DEC 1, 2021, 11:47 AM SGT
    FACEBOOKTWITTER

    SINGAPORE - National shuttler Yeo Jia Min got off to a rough start in her Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals debut when she was beaten 21-11, 21-14 by Japan's world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi in 34 minutes on Wednesday (Dec 1).

    In their women's singles Group B opener at the Bali International Convention Centre, the Japanese displayed more precise shuttle control from the beginning, and never eased up against her 17th-ranked opponent to extend her head-to-head record against the Singaporean to 4-1.

    In the other Group B match, South Korea's world No. 6 An Se-young similarly eased to a 21-16, 21-5 win over Thailand's world No. 12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan.

    Regardless of the result, Yeo has already created history by becoming the first Singaporean to qualify for the US$1.5 million (S$2.05 million) World Tour Finals which features the top eight singles and doubles performers of the calendar year.

    The 22-year-old will play two more round-robin matches against An and Busanan before the top two in each group advance to the semi-finals of the Dec 1-5 event. She is assured of at least US$9,000 in prize money and 4,800 ranking points.

    Group A comprises India's world No. 7 P. V. Sindhu, Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong (10th), Germany's Yvonne Li (24th) and Denmark's Line Christophersen (27th).
     
  12. lodoss

    lodoss Regular Member

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    Loh meeting Viktor in WC 1st round :rolleyes:
     
  13. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Hard luck!
    But surely Viktor must be quite exhausted. There were 4 walkovers in today's World Tour.
     
    #1753 Loh, Dec 2, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2021
  14. lodoss

    lodoss Regular Member

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    i guess many conserve their energies for the WC. although WT bring $, a medal in WC will also bring u sponsor $ and a place in history.
    hope there are no more withdrawal in WC. this week's WT is not high in quality, imo.
     
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  15. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Loh Kean Yew's coach beats chest vigorously like a gorilla to motivate him during matches
    Loh Kean Yew's coach beats chest vigorously like a gorilla to motivate him during matches - Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world

    Kelvin Ho was once a national shuttler too.

    Alfie Kwa | [​IMG] December 08, 2021, 11:18 AM
    [​IMG]
    Passionate badminton fans may have seen national shuttler Loh Kean Yew's badminton coach, Kelvin Ho, beating his chest during his games.

    Ho has apparently done this so vigorously that he cramped up from it, he revealed in an interview posted on the Singapore National Olympic Council's (SNOC) website.

    Court-side cheerleader
    [​IMG]Kelvin Ho and Loh Kean Yew at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Image from SgOlympics/IG.
    In the SNOC interview, the coach likened his action of beating his chest to something a gorilla might do.

    He revealed that he does it to let Loh know he's there to support and motivate him throughout the match.

    Ho added that with Loh playing in major badminton games including the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he could be overwhelmed with emotions and lose his focus amid the game.

    So, he becomes Loh's cheerleader, reminding him to be brave during critical moments.



    [​IMG]From left to right: Yeo Jiamin, Kelvin Ho and Loh Kean Yew. Image from SgOlympics/IG.

    Once a national shuttler

    Before turning to coach, Ho wanted to be a professional badminton player and previously represented Singapore at the 2009 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

    Ho quit school at the age of 17 to pursue his dream, according to the recent SNOC interview.

    A letter published in 2011 on The Straits Times (ST) also revealed that Ho committed to becoming a full-time shuttler despite his father's objection.

    At age 21, he was however told to leave by the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) as he was "too old to make it to world-class excellence", according to a 2011 ST's report.

    A dedicated and passionate coach

    Now, Ho, who is 31 this year, is the SBA singles' assistant coach and under his wings are some of Singapore's top badminton players like Loh and Yeo Jia Min.

    He's also coached other players at the SEA Games in 2015 and 2019 and at the Youth Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games in 2018.

    SBA’s technical manager and former national shuttler, Jiang Yanmei, described Ho as a dedicated and passionate coach, according to the SNOC interview.

    Ho added that coaching national athletes does not come without difficulties.

    He said in the SNOC interview that one of his biggest challenges as a coach is trying to convince his players to trust his game plan, and this does not happen overnight.

    Ho will talk to players and walk them through what he has planned so that they can understand and accept his strategy.

    The game plan for Loh this year was to improve his fitness, focusing particularly on his speed and strength in the games.

    That game plan seems to work out well as Loh came in second place at the Indonesia Open men's singles, losing only to world number two and Olympic gold medallist Viktor Axelsen in the finals after a valiant match lasting 59 minutes.

    Following which, he has also reached a new career-high, now ranking 20th in the world.

    In tribute to Ho, Loh wrote on Instagram: "Thank you Coach Kelvin for all that you have done for me and Singapore badminton."

    Top image from SgOlymics/IG and Loh Kean Yew/IG. H/T: Singapore Olympics
     
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  16. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Badminton: S'pore's Loh Kean Yew and Yeo Jia Min recharged for World Champs
    [​IMG]
    After a layover in Singapore, national shuttlers Yeo Jia Min (left), Loh Kean Yew (right) and national singles coach Kelvin Ho are off to Spain for the BWF World Championships.PHOTO: SINGAPORE BADMINTON ASSOCIATION
    [​IMG]
    David Lee
    • PUBLISHED
      DEC 10, 2021, 2:09 PM SGT
    FACEBOOKTWITTER

    SINGAPORE - Although it was a mere four days of layover in Singapore before he flew off for Spain on Tuesday (Dec 7) night, national shuttler Loh Kean Yew feels recharged and ready for the Dec 12-19 BWF World Championships in Huelva.

    He told The Straits Times: "After being away for three months, I caught up with my friends over the weekend, and it was a good and important break from badminton.

    "I went back to training for a few hours the next two days because there's still one big assignment ahead."

    Loh's unfinished business for the year is the World Championships, where he will face world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen in the first round.

    Asked for his reaction to what many would consider an unfortunate draw, the 24-year-old Singaporean quipped cheekily: "I like to be the underdog lah, but why always him?"

    But he added quickly: "I'm not surprised to meet highly seeded players in the early rounds anymore. It always happens to me, so I'll just go out and play to the best of my ability."

    Such single-mindedness has enabled him to climb up the world rankings - he is now 22nd, up from 41st just eight weeks ago - by creating multiple upsets on the Badminton World Federation World Tour.

    Besides capturing the Dutch Open and Hylo Open titles, he also claimed the scalps of Japan's then-world No. 1 Kento Momota (Indonesia Open), Malaysia's world No. 7 and All England champion Lee Zii Jia (French Open) and Chinese Taipei's world No. 4 Chou Tien-chen (Hylo Open).

    However, he has yet to beat Olympic champion Axelsen in four attempts, which include a straight-game loss in the Denmark Open's first round and a three-game defeat in the Indonesia Open final.

    Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the duo are good friends, with the Dane inviting Loh and four other top-60 players to train with him in Dubai for a month after the Olympics, which allowed them more insight into one another's games.

    "Secret," was the reply when asked what strategy Loh would adopt against Axelsen, although national singles coach Kelvin Ho advised finding a balance between being pro-active and patient.

    Loh is joined by Yeo Jia Min in the women's singles. She too is projected to meet the world No. 1 in her draw.

    Ho said: "In the past few days, we have worked with both our players on their explosive endurance, which is most important for matches, and the polishing of their on-court skills.

    "Jia Min will need to keep up her fighting spirit and motivation, and be prepared to fight hard from the start."

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew moves to career-high 20th in rankings, Yeo Jia Min is 17th[/paste:font]
    Badminton: 10 things to know about Singapore's Loh Kean Yew who beat World No. 1 Kento Momota[/paste:font]

    Yeo, 22, who is up to a career-high world No. 16, has received a first-round bye and will play either Scotland's world No. 21 Kirsty Gilmour or Japan's world No. 24 Aya Ohori in the round of 32. If she wins, she could face top-ranked Taiwanese Tai Tzu-ying for a place in the quarter-finals.

    But like Loh, Yeo also boasts an ability to surprise. She shocked Japan's then-world No. 1 Akane Yamaguchi in the second round of the 2019 World Championships en route to a top-eight finish.

    Yeo, who became the first Singaporean to feature at the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals earlier this month but retired in her second match with a knee injury, said: "I was so happy and recharged to be able to see my family and team-mates, and my knee is getting better.

    "I believe anything can happen so I will just take it one match at a time and do my best."
     
    #1756 Loh, Dec 10, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2021
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  17. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Badminton: New courts at Expo and Suntec a boon for enthusiasts
    Badminton: New courts at Expo and Suntec a boon for enthusiasts, Sport News & Top Stories - The Straits Times
    [​IMG]
    There are 20 courts at Teamsport Arena @ Suntec.ST PHOTO: LAURA CHIA
    [​IMG]
    Laura Chia
    • PUBLISHED
      DEC 12, 2021, 5:58 PM SGT
    FACEBOOKTWITTER

    SINGAPORE - Avid badminton player Jiten Khemlani used to wake up at the crack of dawn just to book a court, which are released on ActiveSG's website at 7am two weeks in advance.

    But the IT solutions consultant no longer has to "camp" to make the bookings as over 40 new badminton courts have opened at the Singapore Expo Convention & Exhibition Centre and the Suntec Convention Centre.

    The 32-year-old secured at least one slot a week recently at one of the 22 courts at the Singapore Badminton Hall @ Expo, where he has played at least 10 times.

    There are also 20 courts at Teamsport Arena @ Suntec.

    He said: "The courts (at Expo) are newer and cleaner (than the ones at ActiveSG). The surface is good because it's easier to move around and you won't slip and fall easily.

    "It's good that these courts have opened because it gives people more chances to play badminton since the other courts are so hard to book."

    Richard Tan, chief executive of Arina Holdings which runs the facility, said an average of 60 per cent of slots are now booked daily since it opened in September.

    His company, which also runs 14 courts at its outlet in Geylang, took three weeks to set up the courts inside half of Hall 6 of the Singapore Expo and spent $300,000 to $400,000 on the set-up.

    He has signed a one-year lease for the location but hopes to keep the courts there for a longer period of time.

    Tan, 59, said: "It's a win-win kind of collaboration because without events, the area is very dead and now with more people coming, it helps the businesses in the area and people get to enjoy more badminton courts.

    "There's also a better utilisation of my workers and materials."

    A spokesman from events firm Constellar, which manages Singapore Expo, said: "Badminton has always been a popular sport in Singapore and demand for courts has risen during the pandemic as more people seek out recreation options locally.

    "We saw an opportunity for the Singapore Expo to cater to the needs of badminton fans and recreation seekers through this offering, elevating the experience with low-impact timber flooring, non-slip mats and individually-lit courts to simulate tournament lighting."

    Slots at the Expo facility are available from 9am to 10pm on weekdays and 8am to 10pm on weekends. They cost $12 an hour during non-peak hours (9am to 6pm on weekdays) and $18 an hour at all other times.

    [​IMG]
    Shuttlers at the badminton courts at Singapore Expo Hall 6 on Nov 25, 2021. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
    Courts at the Teamsport Arena @ Suntec, which are run by sports equipment company Teamsport Singapore, cost $15 an hour on weekdays (7am to 6pm) and $30 an hour during peak hours (6pm to 11pm on weekdays, 7am to 11pm on weekends).

    While courts at the convention centres are priced slightly higher than those at ActiveSG sports halls ($3.50 to $9.70 an hour) or the OCBC Arena ($5 to $13 an hour), that has not stopped players from getting their weekly badminton fix.

    When The Straits Times visited the Singapore Badminton Hall @ Expo on a weekday night, eight courts were being used at 7pm but an hour later, all were full.

    Similarly at Teamsport Arena @ Suntec on a weekday night, all the courts in halls 601/602 were fully utilised from 8pm onwards.

    Teamsport Singapore founder Toon Ong added that the place is always full at peak hours while it is 70 per cent booked in the afternoons, with mornings being the quietest.

    Business undergraduate Darren Tan, 25, who played at Teamsport Arena @ Suntec for the first time recently, said he and his friends were initially put off by the high price point but decided to give it a shot.

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Sporting Life: An elastic reminder of Asia's love for badminton[/paste:font]
    Betting on bots: How resellers are beating others to book badminton courts[/paste:font]
    He usually plays at various sports halls in Bishan, Yio Chu Kang and Yishun.

    "We had no choice. It's really hard to book courts (at ActiveSG sports halls) and even if we get them, we have to wait for two months," said the final-year Singapore Management University student, who was playing badminton for the first time in a year.

    "My friends and I really enjoyed playing there. It beats other courts because sports halls are usually dusty and kind of stuffy. So this place with air conditioning is a bonus.

    "We might still come once in a while but honestly, the price is really a concern."

    Ong, 32, acknowledged that the price at his facility is higher but noted that his courts will help meet the high demand for badminton courts in Singapore.

    "It's a challenge to book courts here and all the snatching and re-selling of courts is not ideal. We want to be inclusive and open to the public.

    "If you split it by the number of players who come, it's still affordable. And looking at the quality of play... you're able to play 80-90 per cent of the time because it's an air-conditioned venue so you're actually playing more."

    He selected the Suntec Convention Centre as a venue because of its central location and high ceilings in the halls. His start-up cost is a six-figure sum including renovations and setting up while his lease is also renewed on a year-to-year basis.

    A Suntec Singapore spokesman said: "We are delighted to be selected as the venue for the Teamsport Badminton courts."

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Anger, frustration as social players turn to resellers to book badminton courts[/paste:font]
    Beyond providing Singaporeans with more playing facilities, Ong also hopes to bring more badminton enthusiasts into his space through the company-run Meetup group and organising tournaments for players of different levels.

    If all goes well, he is also looking to set up more courts in other areas of Singapore and venture into other sports such as table tennis, fencing and mixed martial arts.

    Serge Divino, who returned to the court at Singapore Expo after taking a two-month break, hopes the courts will remain so players have more options.

    The 42-year-old, who works in IT, noted that the operators even took players' feedback into consideration, with the lights there brighter than when he first visited in September.

    He added: "We don't have to camp for slots here. There are more options to play now and you can play more. It also helps other people who want to play because they might be stressed after work or during the pandemic, they just want to exercise.

    "The cost is a bit higher but I'm a badminton addict and I really miss playing so this is a good alternative."

    Nicholas Mak, head of research and consultancy at ERA Realty, said operating such sports facilities in exhibition halls is a creative use of space that is under-utilised during the pandemic and can see this continuing as long as the pandemic restricts the use of exhibition halls for conventions and major meetings.

    [​IMG]
    Operating such sports facilities in exhibition halls is a creative use of space that is under-utilised during the pandemic. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

    He said: "Covid-19 restrictions still prevent people from gathering in large numbers. Looking at badminton, it's not like football or basketball where people are in close contact. They're still spaced apart and you can space different sets of players further apart because the convention area volume is very high.

    "It might not be as profitable as holding exhibitions. (But this) allows them to switch back to a convention hall quite quickly if space is needed and they don't have to spend a lot of money or energy."

    He also felt it was a win-win situation, explaining: "It's a kind of service to the community to allow people to exercise in relative comfort.

    "(And) there might also be a positive spillover effect because the courts attract people to the place itself and could result in additional business for surrounding shops and restaurants."

    Cost of booking a court
    OCBC Arena
    Off-peak hours (weekdays 7am-6pm): $5 an hour (for citizens and permanent residents), $6.50 (standard rate)
    Peak: $8, $13

    ActiveSG
    Off-peak: $3.50, $4.60
    Peak: $7.40, $9.70

    Singapore Badminton Hall @ Expo
    Off-peak (weekdays 9am-6pm): $12
    Peak: $18

    Teamsport Arena @ Suntec
    Off-peak (weekdays 7am-6pm): $15
    Peak: $30
     
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  18. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    TOTALENERGIES BWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021
    12 - 19 DECEMBER
    HUELVA, SPAIN

    At long last, LKY beat Viktor Axelsen 14-21, 21-9, 21-6.
     
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  19. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew shocks world No.1 Viktor Axelsen at BWF World Championships

    Chia Han Keong

    8 hrs ago
    Like1 Comment|
    upload_2021-12-14_9-35-3.png [​IMG]
    SINGAPORE — For the second time in a space of three weeks, Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew has stunned the world No.1 men's singles player at a major badminton tournament.

    Whereas the 24-year-old had defeated Japan's Kento Momota at the Indonesia Open on 25 November, he has taken the scalp of the new world No.1 Viktor Axelsen at the season-ending Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships in Huelva, Spain on Monday (13 December).

    The Singaporean shuttler, ranked world No.22, upset the reigning Olympic champion 14-21, 21-9, 21-6 in the opening round of the prestigious tournament to advance into the round of 32, where he will face Austria's Luka Wraber.

    Axelsen had defeated Loh in the final of the Indonesia Open in their previous encounter. The Dane was also instrumental in the Singaporean's dramatic uptick in form after the Tokyo Olympics in August, when he invited Loh to train with him for a month in Dubai.
     
  20. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew stuns world number one Viktor Axelsen at World Championships
    Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew stuns world number one Viktor Axelsen at World Championships - CNA (channelnewsasia.com)


    [​IMG]
    Singapore's Loh Kean Yew took just 25 minutes to defeat Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus at the Indonesia Open on Nov 26, 2021. (Photo: Facebook/Team Singapore)

    [​IMG]
    Matthew Mohan
    @MatthewMohanCNA
    14 Dec 2021 12:36AM(Updated: 14 Dec 2021 08:57AM)

    SINGAPORE: Badminton player Loh Kean Yew exacted some revenge on a familiar foe on Tuesday (Dec 14) when he upset world number one Viktor Axelsen in the first round of the men’s singles at the BWF World Championships in Huelva, Spain.

    In a pulsating game which saw momentum see-saw the way of the Dane then the Singaporean, it was Loh who held his cool to beat the Olympic champion 14-21, 21-9, 21-6. Axelsen is the tournament's second seed.

    Loh is currently ranked 22nd in the world and will next face Austria’s Luka Wraber in the round of 32.

    Loh’s victory comes weeks after he fell in three games to the Dane at the Indonesia Masters final. It was the first time Loh qualified for the final of a Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 1000 event.

    The young Singaporean had earlier this year taken part in a month-long training stint with Axelsen and four other players from across the globe in Dubai.

    Loh won his first career BWF World Tour Super 500 title at the Hylo Open earlier this month. He also took the Dutch Open crown in October.

    The Singaporean has made it a habit of upsetting higher ranked opponents such as Japanese star Kento Momota. However, this is Loh's first career win over Axelsen.
     

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