Tokyo Olympics: Loh Kean Yew so close to beating Asian Games champ

Chia Han Keong
·Editor
·2-min read
Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew hits a shot to Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in their men's singles group stage match at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew hits a shot to Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in their men's singles group stage match at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (PHOTO: AFP / Alexander Nemenov)

Reporting from Tokyo

TOKYO — Singaporean shuttler Loh Kean Yew came close to beating reigning Asian Games champion Jonatan Christie, but still succumbed 20-22, 21-13, 18-21 at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza on Wednesday (28 July).

The 24-year-old had put the Indonesian under pressure in the second set with aggressive smashes and smart shot selection. However, a series of errors in crucial moments cost him the match.

"Definitely disappointed with how I handled the key moments of the first and third sets," Loh told Yahoo News Singapore at the mixed zone.

"I'm satisfied that I gave my best shot. I feel like I can match up with the top 10 players in the world, but to do it consistently is what I need to work on."

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Loh had won his debut Olympic match on Monday, when he beat Aram Mahmoud of the Refugee Olympic Team in straight sets.

Christie, 23, had dedicated his Olympic run to his late elder brother Ivan, who died earlier this year due to COVID-19.

Singapore shuttler Yeo Jia Min hits a shot to South Korea's Kim Gaeun in their women's singles badminton group stage match at he Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Singapore shuttler Yeo Jia Min hits a shot to South Korea's Kim Gaeun in their women's singles badminton group stage match at he Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. (PHOTO: Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images)

Yeo Jia Min beaten by superior Korean opponent

Like Loh, Yeo's first Olympic outing ended in elimination from the women's singles group stage, after she was beaten 13-21, 14-21 by South Korea's Kim Gaeun on Wednesday morning.

The 22-year-old had no answer for Kim's deft shot-making, and fell to the world No.12 in 30 minutes at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza.

With the defeat, Yeo finished second in Group K behind Kim, with only the top shuttler able to advance into the round of 16.

Yeo had made her Olympic debut on Tuesday with a comfortable 21-7, 21-10 win over Mexico's Haramara Gaitan.

Singapore swimmer Quah Ting Wen preparing to begin her women's 100m freestyle heats at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (PHOTO: SNOC/Kong Chong Yew)
Singapore swimmer Quah Ting Wen preparing to begin her women's 100m freestyle heats at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (PHOTO: SNOC/Kong Chong Yew)

Quah Ting Wen misses out on semi-final cut in women's 100m free

At the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, Quah Ting Wen clocked 56.36 seconds to finish eighth out of eight swimmers in heat four of the women's 100m freestyle competition.

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The 28-year-old was placed 36th out of 51 swimmers, and did not advance to the semi-finals.

Quah will next compete in the women's 50m freestyle heats on Friday.

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