Latest news with #LohKeanYew
CNA
2 days ago
- General
- CNA
Badminton: Loh Kean Yew loses to France's Christo Popov in Singapore Open quarter-finals
SINGAPORE: Loh Kean Yew's run at the Singapore Open ended on Friday (May 30) as he lost in an upset to France's Christo Popov in the men's singles quarter-finals. The world number 23 Popov took the match 21-10, 21-14 to advance to the last four, where he will face China's Lu Guangzu. The victory means that Popov has now won three of the six meetings against Loh. He had also beaten Loh at the 2023 edition of the tournament in the round of 16. Up against his third consecutive French opponent, world number 10 Loh struggled to find any rhythm in the first game and went behind 8-11 at the interval. Loh had beaten Popov's older brother and doubles partner Toma the day before, but he simply had no answer to the younger Popov, who never relinquished his lead. While Loh took an early lead in the second game, his opponent took control just before the interval and saw the game out to silence the home crowd. Loh was the only Singaporean representative left in the competition after compatriot Yeo Jia Min was eliiminated by world number 1 An Se-young in the round of 16 on Thursday.
CNA
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Loh Kean Yew through to Singapore Open quarters, Yeo Jia Min falls to world number 1
SINGAPORE: There were contrasting fortunes for Singapore's top badminton players on Thursday (May 29) as Loh Kean Yew booked his spot in the Singapore Open men's singles quarterfinals, while Yeo Jia Min exited the tournament in the round of 16. At the Singapore Indoor Stadium, world number 10 Loh mounted a sensational comeback late on to beat France's Toma Junior Popov 21-12, 14-21, 21-18 in 65 minutes. "I was pretty lucky at the end. I don't know what I did, but at that point of time, I just did what I did to try to win every point," said Loh. "It was hard to control the draught today, the wind condition, the shuttle, and he was playing very well. So it was hard to play against him just now." The win means that Loh has now triumphed over the world number 16 in all six of their meetings. The 27-year-old looked sharp in the first game as he stormed to a 9-1 lead while his opponent struggled with errors and the drift. But the Frenchman was in control for much of the second and pushed the tie to a decider. The match looked to have slipped out of the hands of the Singaporean as Popov built up a 16-11 lead to silence the home crowd. "It was just fighting spirit. The crowd boosted (me) a lot, and I think it also affected him a little bit, especially at the end where they kept chanting my name," said Loh. But Loh showed remarkable character as he dragged himself back from the brink, celebrating the win with a knee slide and pumped fists. Loh will face his third consecutive French opponent – Popov's younger brother Christo – in the quarter-finals on Friday. The former world champion has a 3-2 head-to-head record against the 23-year-old. Yeo, however, was not able to pull off an upset against world number 1 and defending champion An Se-young. The 23-year-old, who won four consecutive Badminton World Federation Tour titles prior to the tournament in Singapore, took the match 21-14, 21-13 in 41 minutes. World number 11 Yeo kept pace with the reigning women's singles Olympic and world champion early on in the first game, before the South Korean pulled away. But with An shifting into a higher gear in the second, Yeo went into the interval 6-11 behind and could not peg the top seed back. "She was able to be quite quick on her feet, and her shots were pressuring me quite a bit," said Yeo. "Throughout the match, I just on and off played many unforced errors which very quickly widened the gap. That gave me more pressure, because she barely made any mistakes." Yeo saw off world number 12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-14, 21-13 in the round of 32 on Tuesday.
Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
Singapore Badminton Open: Loh Kean Yew and Yeo Jia Min win opening match, Jason Teh falls to top player Shi Yu Qi
SINGAPORE: It was a mixed result for the local shuttlers as Loh Kean Yew and Yeo Jia Min navigated a challenging opening round on Tuesday, May 27 at the KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2025 to book a spot in the Round of 16, while Jason Teh exited the competition after falling to world no. 1 Shi Yu Qi. Singapore's top men's singles player Loh came from a set down to claim his first career win over Alex Lainer (France), 21-23, 21-17, 21-11. The duo had first met on the court last October during the Denmark Open quarter-final round, with the Frenchman winning 21-18, 15-21, 24-22. 'I'm happy to be able to win a seeded player here at the Singapore Open,' said Loh after his match against Lanier at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. On the opening day of the Singapore Badminton Open, world no. 9 Lanier came out on the offensive early on, as he dominated much of the first game with powerful smashes and established a six-point lead during the game. Loh showed grit to claw back, scoring five consecutive points from 13–18 down, and then another three-point burst from 17–19 to earn a game point at 20–19. However, the Frenchman did enough to hold off Loh's charge, to claim the first set 23–21. However, world no. 10 Loh bounced back strongly in the second set, upping his aggression and forcing a string of unforced errors from Lanier. After pulling ahead from 6–6, Loh never relinquished the lead. In the deciding set, Loh seized control of the game early with blistering smashes and built momentum with the backing of the home crowd. From 2–1, he led throughout and closed out the match in emphatic fashion. KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2025: Men's Singles First Round – Loh Kean Yew (Singapore) vs Alex Lanier (France). (Photo credit: BADMINTONPHOTO) 'It's going to be challenging because we're up against the very best in the world here. But playing at home in Singapore is always special. The cheers from the crowd lift me, and I'm ready to give it everything I've got,' shared Loh before the tournament. Loh will next face another Frenchman, Toma Junior Popov, in the Round of 16. Toma had a relatively easy opening game as he came through against Japan's Yushi Tanaka in straight games 21-19, 21-15. The 2011 BWF World Championships winner Loh holds a dominant 5-0 head-to-head record against the world No. 16, with his latest victories coming in 2024 at the French Open and Spain Masters. Should Loh dispatch Toma in the next round, he could possibly be setting up a match with another French player, Christo Popov in the quarter-final. The world No. 23-ranked player delivered an upset in his opening game, winning 21-17, 21-13 against third-seeded player Anders Antonsen of Denmark. With the win, Christo will next face the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2022 Thomas Cup H.S Prannoy. WOMEN'S SINGLES – YEO SETS UP CLASH WITH WORLD NO.1 Over at the women's singles category, Yeo delighted home fans with a confident straight sets win 21-14, 21-13 over Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan in 41 minutes. Yeo settled into the match after a slow start, recovering from early pressure to pull ahead with deft control and placement. From a narrow 14–13 lead in the first game, she surged with five straight points to take control and close it out. 'It is really warm to know that there are a lot more supporters supporting badminton in Singapore. There's maybe a little bit more excitement, wanting to do well for Singaporean fans.' 'I'm really thankful that I played a good game today and maintained that focus from start to [finish]. I'm really relieved, and I'm all focused for the next round,' expressed Yeo after her win in the opening game. Singapore Badminton Open 2025: Women's Singles First Round: Yeo Jia Min (Singapore) vs Busanan Ongbamrungphan (Thailand) (Photo credit: BADMINTONPHOTO) The Singapore shuttler would be hoping to keep up with her performance against her next opponent, as the stage is now set for a blockbuster Round of 16 clash against the defending champion, An Se Young. The South Korean had previously recorded eight wins over Yeo, with the Singaporean claiming two wins against An, at the 2024 India Open and 2019 Hyderabad Open. The two players also met in the Singapore Badminton Open two years ago, with An cruising to a 21-12, 21-11 win. While both Loh and Yeo's journeys continue in the Singapore Badminton Open, it is the end of the competition for men's singles player Teh. The 2025 Thailand Masters winner bowed out in the opening round, falling to defending champion Shi in straight games, 16–21, 16–21. Teh put up a spirited performance in the second game, leading by as much as three points at various stages. But Shi showed his championship pedigree, reeling off six straight points at the close to wrap up the match in 42 minutes. This was his second defeat to the top-seeded player Shi, the first coming during the BWF Sudirman Cup 2023 group stage match. 'I was really hoping to play a few more matches, but since I drew him (Shi), there's nothing I can do about it. I just have to face it positively and take it as a chance to learn a lot from him.' 'Maybe if I played someone else, whether I won or lost, I wouldn't gain something as valuable because he's the world number one, so technically the best. So I faced it with a positive mindset,' said Teh, who will set his focus next on the Indonesia Open. KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2025: Singapore mixed doubles pair, Terry Hee and Jin Yujia. (Photo credit: Singapore Badminton Association) Singapore mixed doubles pair Terry Hee and Jin Yujia will open their Singapore Badminton Open campaign on Wednesday, May 28, against Rehan Kusharjanto and Gloria Widjaja of Indonesia. A win for Hee and Jin will see them taking on either Chen Cheng Kuan and Hsu Yin-Hui (Chinese Taipei) or the fourth-seeded pair Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui of China in the Round of 16. The Singapore Badminton Open was first organised by the Singapore Badminton Association in 1929. The competition first became part of the International Badminton Federation Grand Prix circuit. It regained international recognition in 2007 when it became part of the BWF Super Series, and subsequently designated as one of the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournaments in 2018. Two years ago, the Singapore Badminton Open was upgraded to the BWF World Tour Super 750. It is one of the seven competitions held this year in the Super 750 series, alongside the China Masters, Denmark Open, French Open, Japan Open, and India Open.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Loh Kean Yew aims to be a good father as he juggles both new and old responsibilities
With the help of his wife, Singapore's top badminton player Loh Kean Yew has adapted well to life as a father and touring pro. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Loh Kean Yew aims to be a good father as he juggles both new and old responsibilities SINGAPORE – His main goals have not changed – become an Olympic champion and rise to world No. 1 – but the responsibilities have. The past 12 months have seen several key changes to Loh Kean Yew's life as the Singapore badminton star became a father in July and had a coaching change in January. So, at the start of 2025, the 27-year-old wrote down new targets on top of doing well at the May 27-June 1 KFF Singapore Open, world championships and SEA Games: 'Earn money, be a good dad and spend more time with family.' Not losing sight of his dream of winning an Olympic gold and becoming the top-ranked player to inspire the younger generation, Loh is now very much motivated by his own son and wife these days. He shared that as he juggles changing nappies and retrieving smashes from the world's best players, he is able to continue being a touring badminton pro, thanks to his wife's support. Loh told The Straits Times on May 26: 'I've been more of a badminton player than a father. I also want to spend more time with my son and my wife. This is why, whenever I can, I'll try my best to be with them, and do whatever I can – change his diapers, play with him, feed him, nap with him, put him to bed – to let my wife rest. 'She has been very understanding... There's not much I can do to help her at home when I'm not around, so I need to do my part, which is play the best I can. 'After having a baby, there are many things I don't see as important any more. I just want to focus on my badminton and be a good role model for my son.' In an Instagram post on Mother's Day, Singapore badminton star Loh Kean Yew thanks his wife for taking care of their baby son as he focuses on his playing career. PHOTO: LOHKEANYEW/INSTAGRAM Consistency has often been a challenge for Loh. After reaching the quarter-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he lost to Denmark's eventual champion Viktor Axelsen, he won just five out of his next 15 matches, was knocked out in the first round at six out of nine events, and slipped out of the top 10. 'There are a lot of tournaments we must play on tour, so I had no choice but to be there and try my best, even though I needed to rest after the Olympics,' he explained, adding that the six years of preparation for the Tokyo and Paris Games in 2021 and 2024 respectively had been very taxing. Beneath his smiley exterior, losing hurts. Loh said he has daily psychological battles within himself. 'Like whether I'll be able to perform, whether I will lose today? How will I play, what can I do to win today? It sounds like simple stuff... but it is actually a very tough battle that nobody knows,' he added. After spending some time with his family, Loh started soaring again. In 2025, he reached the German Open final and All England quarter-finals, before winning the Taipei Open in between semi-final appearances at the Badminton Asia Championships and Thailand Open, to take his prize money for the year past $70,000. His fine run has coincided with his tutelage under singles head coach Kim Ji-hyun, who was hired in January, though he also credited former coach Kelvin Ho for 'making me very strong as a player'. The world No. 10 added: 'Coach Kim has given me much more confidence in certain things she asks me to do and try out... I can feel the difference when I'm playing on the court.' Loh hopes to make an impact at the Indoor Stadium, with the US$1 million (S$1.28 million) KFF Singapore Open offering significant prize money and ranking points. In the first round of the Super 750 event on May 27, he takes on the ninth-ranked Alex Lanier, while 22nd-ranked compatriot Jason Teh will meet China's world No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yuqi. Women's singles world No. 12 Yeo Jia Min will face Thailand's 10th-ranked Busanan Ongbamrungphan, while the 28th-ranked Terry Hee and Jin Yujia play Indonesia's Rehan Kusharjanto and Gloria Widjaja in the mixed doubles on May 28. Loh said eighth seed Lanier is a 'buddy off court and we are going to 'kill' each other on court'. 'He's a tough opponent and a very good player who just won the European Championship, so he's definitely a strong challenger, and I look forward to playing with him. But he is seeded higher, so he should be the one who has the pressure,' added Loh, who is unseeded. While the Frenchman won their only previous encounter on tour – the 2024 Denmark Open quarter-final – by edging out the rubber game 24-22, Loh seems to have found a mental breakthrough lately, winning his last six three-game matches. These include extended affairs against Shi in the Asia Championships quarter-final and Taiwanese world No. 7 Chou Tien-chen in the Taipei Open final. But he recognises that more work needs to be done, saying: 'My goal is not to do well in just these few months. I want to be more and more consistent throughout the year and throughout multiple years.' David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Loh Kean Yew through to Singapore Open quarter-finals after late comeback
Loh Kean Yew will meet Christo Popov in the Singapore Open quarter-finals on May 30. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO SINGAPORE – Fighting back from a five-point deficit in his decider, Singapore's Loh Kean Yew kept local hopes up as he staged a late rally to prevail 21-12, 14-21, 21-18 against 16th-ranked Toma Junior Popov of France in their men's singles last-16 match at the US$1 million (S$1.29 million) KFF Singapore Open on May 29. The world No. 10 had already overcome one Frenchman in ninth-ranked Alex Lanier in the opening round, and will meet another one in the May 30 quarter-finals when he takes on world No. 23 Christo Popov, who is Toma Junior's younger brother. Earlier in the day, 15th-ranked Lu Guangzu of China stunned his compatriot, world No. 1 and defending men's singles champion Shi Yuqi, 17-21, 21-13, 26-24. He saved two match-points and required six of his own to seal a quarter-final against Japan's world No. 7 Kodai Naraoka. Meanwhile, China's world No. 4 Li Shifeng was eliminated 21-18, 21-14 by 19th-ranked Lin Chun-yi of Chinese Taipei, while Indonesia's world No. 5 Jonatan Christie lost 21-16, 21-19 to Malaysia's 25th-ranked Leong Jun Hao. Leong will next face Thailand's world No. 2 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the reigning world and Asian champion, who eased to a 21-8, 21-17 win over China's 33rd-ranked Wang Zhengxing. Meanwhile, Taiwanese world No. 6 Chou Tien-chen, a semi-finalist here in 2024, was also beaten 21-12, 21-16 by Hong Kong's 21st-ranked Lee Cheuk Yiu. There was also an upset in the women's singles, where Japanese starlet and world No. 8 Tomoka Miyazaki lost 21-17, 21-18 to Canada's 18th-ranked Michelle Li. Later in the day, Singapore's 11th-ranked Yeo Jia Min will take on South Korea's defending champion and world No. 1 An Se-young, who is also the reigning world and Olympic champion. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
