Loh Kean Yew smashes into Singapore Open semi-finals, beating China’s Li Shi Feng

Reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in action at the Singapore Badminton Open. (PHOTO: Singapore Badminton Open)
Reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in action at the Singapore Badminton Open. (PHOTO: Singapore Badminton Open)

SINGAPORE — World No.9 shuttler Loh Kean Yew is now just two matches away from possibly becoming the first Singaporean to win the country’s most prestigious badminton tournament in the men's singles since 1962.

On Friday (15 July), Loh defeated China’s Li Shi Feng 21-15, 21-18 in the quarter-finals in the Singapore Badminton Open. He became the first Singaporean singles player in 15 years to advance into the semi-finals of the tournament – Ronald Susilo achieved the feat in the 2007 edition.

Facing Loh in the semis is World No. 6 Anthony Ginting, who clinched a 21-15, 21-12 win over Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong.

Ginting and Loh are the only remaining seeded players left in the tournament following the shock exits of several top names including world No.4 and 8, Chou Tien-chen from Taiwan and Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie respectively.

In the previous round of 16, Loh defeated 2013 winner Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia 21-13, 21-17 in 40 minutes. Prior to the current Singapore Open, Loh’s furthest progress in the tournament was in the round of 16 in 2018.

Loh, who has yet to drop a set at this tournament, said, “The pressure (of winning) will always be there. It’s never going to go away and I’ve to learn how to manage it. Hopefully, I can perform and win.”

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