Loh Kean Yew / 骆建佑

Badminton: 10 issues to learn about Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew who beat World No.1 Kento Momota

Loh Kean Yew received the Hylo Open males’s singles last on Nov 8 after his opponent Lee Zii Jia conceded the match as a consequence of a again damage.PHOTO: LOHKEANYEW/INSTAGRAM

• PUBLISHED
  NOV 8, 2021, 9:10 AM SGT

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SINGAPORE – Nationwide badminton participant Loh Kean Yew claimed the most important scalp of his profession 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 Twenty first-ranked Hans-Kristian Vittinghus on the Bali Worldwide Conference Middle on Friday. (Loh beat Vittinghus 21-9, 21-4 )

Loh, 24, has loved an unbelievable rise in current months.

Simply two weeks earlier, he captured the most important title of his profession after his opponent within 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 main 19-21, 21-13, 17-12 on the Saarlandhalle in Saarbrucken when Lee, the All England champion, conceded the match after struggling a again damage.

This is what it is advisable learn about Loh:

1. Two titles since July

Within the 4 European tournaments he has taken half in for the reason that Olympics in July, he has captured two titles, together with Sunday’s win on the Hylo Open.

The primary was on the US$15,000 (S$20,250) Oct 13-17 Dutch Open, the place he upset India’s world No. 21 Lakshya Sen, the highest seed and defending champion, 21-12, 21-16 within the last.

However Sunday’s win is a far higher achievement, his first triumph on the Badminton World Federation World Tour Tremendous 500 degree, the fourth tier on the game’s skilled circuit.

2. Most memorable second got here in 2019
Loh’s most memorable achievement got here in 2019 when, as an unheralded qualifier, he sensationally defeated Chinese language nice Lin Dan to assert the US$150,000 Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters in Bangkok.

The Chinese language, who retired in 2020 on the age of 37, is extensively considered one of many biggest gamers within the sport. He’s a two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion.

Loh Kean Yew trains six days or 30 hours every week, with double periods on 4 days which embody courtroom, health club periods 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 4 sons. His mother and father are nonetheless dwelling in Penang.

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

5. Kean Yew arrived in S’pore in 2010
Kean Yew arrived a yr later at age 13 after receiving a scholarship from the Singapore Sports activities Faculty. He was not thrilled concerning the transition initially.

“When the time got here for me to maneuver right here, I used to be offended as a result of my associates had been all in Malaysia. However my mom already purchased the ticket to ship me right here, so what to do?,” he advised The Straits Instances.

“So slowly, I began to make associates and adapt to life right here.”

6. Badminton as a occupation
He give up his research at Republic Polytechnic to pursue knowledgeable profession in badminton.

7. Honoured to put on the Singapore flag
He and Kean Hean later turned Singapore residents, with Kean Yew saying: “I’ve had no regrets. After spending so a few years coaching and creating in Singapore, I made many new associates and was able to be a Singapore citizen, serve nationwide service and characterize this nation.

“I’m honoured to put on the Singapore flag on my chest.”

However NS was not with out its challenges and he famous that “typically my ‘really feel’ shall be gone'”. Kean Hean later revealed that Kean Yew would rush to additional night time coaching periods after reserving out from the military camp to coach when he may.

8. 5 SEA Video games medals
He owns 5 SEA Video games medals. One particular person silver from the 2019 version, the place he misplaced the ultimate to Malaysia’s Lee, and 4 bronzes: particular person (2015), group (2015, 2017, 2019).

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9. Laborious work is non-negotiable
In Loh’s e-book, exhausting work is non-negotiable. He trains six days or 30 hours every week, with double periods on 4 days which embody courtroom, health club periods and runs. Throughout competitions, he additionally devotes time analysing opponents, looking for weaknesses to take advantage of.

He defined: “There are gamers within the prime 10 who do not have a lot expertise however are there as a result of they’ve self-discipline, grit and consistency; there are different extra proficient gamers who aren’t there for numerous causes. There are too many good gamers on the market no matter their rankings and I can’t be complacent.”

10. Social media followers
His Instagram followers nearly doubled to greater than 110,000 after his win in Germany and he has over 5,600 on Fb

#1741Loh, Yesterday at 11:18 AM
Final edited: Yesterday at 11:28 AM