Paulus becomes BAM's rival Paulus becomes BAM's rival (nst.com.my) By Fabian Peter - September 25, 2022 @ 9:09pm Eei Hui a candidate for coaching job at BAM? I needed some time off after Malaysia to sort out family matters back home (Indonesia) and now can finally confirm that I have joined the Singapore national team. "I officially started coaching last week and will be assisted by Lim Pek Siah (former BAM women's doubles coach)," said Paulus, who guided world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to the world top 10. Paulus, 54, first joined the BAM as men's doubles coach in 2013 before leaving 10 months later to become head coach for the Philippines' national team. The Indonesian then returned to Malaysia for the second time in 2018 as men's doubles coach, but two years later was surprisingly moved to the mixed doubles department, despite producing good results with Aaron-Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani. It is learnt that Paulus, who already felt hard done by this change, chose not to renew his contract with BAM in April. On his new role with the Singapore national team, Paulus said: "So far, everything is good. Unlike in Malaysia, the pool of players here is very small. "Pek Siah and I will overlook the entire doubles squad. "The goal is to get them in good shape and ready for the 2024 Olympics." Paulus was not the only former BAM coach roped in by the Singapore BA. Earlier this month, former national women's singles coach Loh Wei Sheng was appointed as assistant singles coach for the SBA. Wei Sheng will be working closely with former world champion Loh Kean Yew.
That's a coup.....But I hope Pek Siah stay, Have seen a lot of improvement in our doubles teams since she came.
Badminton: Olympic medallists Liliyana Natsir, Eddy Hartono to feature in Masters event Indonesian 2016 Olympic gold medallist and four-time mixed doubles world champion Liliyana Natsir will headline the Dec 2-4 event. PHOTO: LILIYANA NATSIR/INSTAGRAM Kimberly Kwek PUBLISHED OCT 14, 2022, 1:23 PM SGT SINGAPORE - Badminton fans are set for a treat in December when the stars of yesteryear will grace courts in Singapore again. The Brave Sword International Team Challenge 2022, a Masters series organised by Brave Sword Badminton Academy and sanctioned by the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA), will see Indonesian 2016 Olympic gold medallist and four-time mixed doubles world champion Liliyana Natsir headline the Dec 2-4 event at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. The tournament, which involves at least 19 teams from regional giants like Indonesia and Malaysia so far, will also feature other stars such as 1992 Barcelona Olympics silver medallist Eddy Hartono, two-time world championships silver medallist Yoo Yeon-seong and former doubles world No. 1 Tan Boon Heong. Indonesian legends Susi Susanti and Alan Budi Kusuma, who were both gold medallists at the 1992 Olympics, will also be in the Republic as the event’s guests of honour. This is the first time that an international Masters event is being held in the Republic. Brave Sword founder Jose Da Rosa Junior believes those in the Masters category are often overlooked. Having such a tournament is also significant for the 57-year-old, who just turned professional a month ago after picking up badminton at the age of 41. He said: “I have a feeling that in many countries, just like in Singapore, the focus and resources have been put mostly in the elite players and youth development. “Of course, these categories are of utmost importance, but the Master group for players from the age of 35 all the way to the 70s and 80s should not be omitted. “So with this in mind, we thought about hosting a series of badminton events to bring more people from the Master groups to the sport.” He added that Brave Sword will be holding another Masters singles event in March 2023. SBA deputy president Chan Wing Kai believes that such competitions will only help grow interest in the sport here, regardless of age. Currently, he said more than 200,000 players engage in the sport “on a very active basis”. At the moment, the Singapore Swimming Club stages the Badminton Inter-Club Master League, but that is a local tournament. Chan said: “This is a good initiative because we have the Singapore Badminton Open but that’s really for the younger players. “So Masters is an area that we can explore further and see how we can create a Masters level competition. This is a really good start.”
One local newspaper reader suggested SBA to get Li Mao to coach LKY and national team in order to get better results. Hope SBA can consider it.
Not much extra to say. HK resident. Became passionate about badminton late in life. Willing to finance high level teams in team tournaments - he gets to play as well as part of the team. Interesting about that bit of him turning pro. Perhaps we will be seeing him represent Singapore in men's doubles. I remember him once saying previously HKBA are too rigid and wrapped up in their own style. Sounds like Singapore are more open to his ideas which looks like a win win situation.
ST Singaporean of the Year nominee: Hee and Tan sacrifice and soar as married mixed doubles duo Badminton player Terry Hee and his wife Jessica Tan won the mixed doubles gold at the July 28-Aug 8 Commonwealth Games. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG David Lee Sports Correspondent PUBLISHED OCT 19, 2022, 3:05 PM SGT It has been more than a year since they married on Oct 2, 2021, but Terry Hee and Jessica Tan still have not gone for their honeymoon. That does not mean they have not been going places, though. Since tying the knot, the badminton players’ mixed doubles career has taken flight. They have won four titles in the past 12 months, starting with the lower-tier Czech Open in October 2021, then the India Open in January and Orleans Masters in France in April, before a stunning victory at the Commonwealth Games in England in August. In Birmingham, they pulled off the unthinkable by defying favourites Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith (world No. 10, ranked 25 places higher), and a vociferous home crowd at the National Exhibition Centre, to lift the title. It is Singapore’s first Commonwealth Games gold in badminton since Li Li’s women’s singles title in Manchester in 2002. From world No. 406 in October 2021, Hee and Tan’s ranking has surged to 23rd, just eight spots off the career-high of 15th they achieved in 2017. This is remarkable as they had slipped to as low as 808th in December 2018, with Tan undergoing surgery on her shoulder in 2018 and then her knee in 2020, while Hee enlisted for national service in 2019. They reunited on court only in 2021. For their resilience and resurgence, the golden couple have been nominated for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award. Tan, 29, said: “We are very honoured and surprised to be nominated for such a meaningful award, and we appreciate the recognition for our hard work and success. “We are also thankful for the support of Singaporeans. We did not expect to be recognised at restaurants and malls, or to be greeted with congratulations and wefie requests, and we are grateful for the kind words of encouragement. “It hasn’t been an easy journey coming back from various setbacks. It would also have been nice to have a couple of uninterrupted weeks for our honeymoon, but the badminton calendar is just too hectic. If we are not travelling for tournaments, we would be putting in the groundwork and training.” Hee, 27, explained why qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris remains their priority. He said: “We have a lifetime together to plan for a honeymoon, but only a once-in-a-lifetime chance to qualify for the Olympics. This is the path we have chosen, and we have no regrets.” MORE ON THIS TOPIC Badminton: Singapore's golden couple Terry Hee, Jessica Tan want to create more history Reaching the Olympics is a complicated affair. First, nations with at least two pairs in the top eight of the world rankings can send a maximum of only two duos. Then, there is also the need to ensure an even geographical distribution so that the African, Asian, European, Oceania and Pan-American confederations are represented. Taking into account both of these considerations, only the top 16 pairs qualified for the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles events at Tokyo 2020. This means Tan and Hee have to get as close to the top 10 as possible to be sure of their Olympic ticket. Hee said: “We are not there yet, and we still have so much to work on in terms of our consistency and quality of our play. This means more hard work and sacrifices, and we won’t stop until we get there.” Nominations this year for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year are open until Dec 15 at https://str.sg/soty22nominate. Nominees must be Singapore citizens, and recognised for performing an act of service in 2022. The award is presented by UBS.
Back to winning ways: Loh Kean Yew bests Thailand’s Sitthikom Thammasin in first round of Denmark Open Back to winning ways: Loh Kean Yew bests Thailand's Sitthikom Thammasin in first round of Denmark Open - (theindependent.sg) Photo: For illustrative purposes only. Singapore's Loh Kean Yew hits a shot to India's Srikanth Kidambi during the men's singles final badminton match of the BWF World Championships in Huelva, on December 19, 2021. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP) October 19, 2022 By Anna Maria Romero Follow us on Instagram and Telegram Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew won over Sitthikom Thammasin of Thailand in the first round of the Denmark Open on Tuesday (18 October) at the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense. Loh, last year’s badminton world champion, is ranked fifth in the world, while his Thai opponent is ranked 36th. At 9:00 am (3:00 pm Singapore time) Loh will be facing India’s Kidambi Srikanth. Watch a 3-minute clip from the match tweeted by ESPN Asia here: Loh, 25, defeated Sitthikom, 27, 21-13, 22-20 in the opening match of the games. In 2012, Sitthikom, then only 17, won the men’s singles title at the Singapore International Series. Loh breezed past the first set but found himself trailing in the second, 17-12. He rallied and went on to win the match. The 29-year-old Srikanth, ranked 11th in the world, was defeated by Loh when he and the Singaporean athlete faced off at the World Championships last year in Huelva, Spain. Earlier this month, Loh became Singapore’s highest-ranked men’s badminton player ever, despite an uneven 2022. He is the first Singaporean to break into the top five badminton players in the world. Loh took a much-needed break last month after having had a very busy match schedule this year. After making history in December of last year when he won the championship in Spain, he immediately went on to the Indian Open in January, where he lost to India’s 20-year-old Lakshya Sen, 22-24, 17-21, in the final in a game that lasted nearly an hour. On Sept 1, after a defeat in the Japan Open, Loh announced over social media that he would be taking a break “to allow my body and mind to rest, recover and recharge.” He wrote, “It’s been a long tour – one filled with many lessons and opportunities. I’ll cherish the happy times and learn from the tough times to create better experiences for the future.” Later that month, Grab Singapore announced Loh as its brand ambassador. The athlete joined the company’s immersion program for a day, experiencing the life of a GrabFood delivery partner, whom he’s whimsically referred to as “Singapore’s best calves.” In an Instagram post, Loh announced the partnership as well, writing: They’ve got the food, the goods, and now—they’ve got me. Excited to announce that I have joined the Grab Singapore family! @grab_sg
Loh Kean Yew repeats World C'ships final win at Denmark Open https://sg.news.yahoo.com/loh-kean-yew-repeats-world-cships-final-win-denmark-open-153754184.htm Chia Han Keong ·Editor Thu, 20 October 2022 at 11:37 pm·2-min read Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew hits a return while in action at the Japan Open in August 2022. (PHOTO: Zhang Xiaoyu/Xinhua via Getty Images) SINGAPORE — Loh Kean Yew repeated his Badminton World Championship final win at the Denmark Open, ousting India's Kidambi Srikanth in their last-16 tie at the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense on Thursday (20 October). The men's singles world No.5 - who had beaten Srikanth last December to earn his monumental world title triumph - was triumphant once more against his world No.11 rival, taking just 34 minutes to score a dominant 21-13, 21-z win Unlike that World Championship final victory, in which Loh had to recover from deficits in both games, this was a much more smooth-sailing affair for the 25-year-old. Seizing control midway through the first game, the Singaporean broke a 9-all tie to win nine of the next 10 points and eventually take the opening game. Loh then raced to a 15-4 lead in the second game, but Srikanth made a big push to close the gap to 15-17 before Loh claimed the final four points for the win. Next opponent could be Axelsen Next up for the former world champion in the quarter-finals could be the reigning world champion: Loh's mentor and world No.1 Viktor Axelsen, who was to face compatriot Rasmus Gemke later on Thursday. (Axelsen won 21-15, 21-19) Singapore's other participant at the Open, women's singles player Yeo Jia Min, failed to clear her opening hurdle as she fell 5-21, 13-21 to Japan's Aya Ohori on Wednesday.
Badminton: Loh Kean Yew stuns Viktor Axelsen to reach Denmark Open semi-finals Singapore's Loh Kean Yew romped to a 21-17, 21-10 win in just 30 minutes against Axelsen, in their Denmark Open quarter-final PHOTO: AFP David Lee Sports Correspondent PUBLISHED 9 HOURS AGO SINGAPORE - Singapore’s top shuttler Loh Kean Yew ended world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen’s men’s singles record run of 39 straight wins in stunning fashion, romping to a 21-17, 21-10 win in just 30 minutes in their Denmark Open quarter-final on Friday. The world No. 5 told The Straits Times: “Beating Viktor now is an achievement in itself because he is on another level. But nobody wins all the time, and he is also human, and a respectable one too.” Loh will go on and meet childhood rival, Malaysia’s third-ranked Lee Zii Jia, in their semi-final on Saturday. The other semi-final will be contested by Japan’s world No. 24 Kodai Naraoka and China’s 44th-ranked Shi Yuqi. Prior to Friday’s match, Axelsen had lost just once in 43 matches in 2022, when he was defeated by India’s Lakshya Sen in their German Open semi-final in March. Since then, the 28-year-old Dane had been in near-invincible form, as he surpassed Chinese legend Lin Dan’s run of 31 consecutive wins en route to six titles, including his second World Championships and All England Open crowns. Axelsen was so dominant, he lost just seven games in his record run. He did withdraw from the Swiss Open and Thailand Open after one win at each event, but these are disregarded when tabulating the streaks. And so, in front of his hometown crowd at the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense, Axelsen was hot favourite to progress. But Loh, who famously beat Axelsen in the first round of the 2021 World Championships before going all the way to become Singapore’s first badminton world champion, had other ideas. Choosing to start from the half with the wind carry, which is generally accepted as the more disadvantageous side, the 25-year-old kept pace in the first game which was littered with shots that sailed long and out, such that Axelsen never led by more than a point. Loh then impressed with his blinding speed that helped him retrieve his opponent’s fierce smashes, and drew gasps of appreciation even from the home fans with his brilliant net play. When the opportunity arose, he unleashed his own ferocious smashes, with one clocked at 388 kmh. The bromance between the two players, who started training together with other players in Dubai in September 2021 on Axelsen’s invitation before repeating the arrangement before this tournament, has been well-documented. But there was a dash of drama during their latest encounter on two occasions when each player declined to change the shuttlecocks despite the other’s request. Loh began the second game with a service fault, but then showcased his full array of skills - scooping shuttles from near the floor, stroking deft drop shots, and sending winners to the corners - to blitz Axelsen and record his second win over his illustrious rival in six encounters. His delightful all-round game on the night led commentator Gillian Clark to comment: “Loh is playing so well, he is making the reigning world and Olympic champion look ordinary.” After admitting to The Straits Times at the Commonwealth Games in England in August that he was struggling with his form and consistency, he reached the World Championships quarter-finals and was knocked out at the round of 16 at the Japan Open. He then trained with Axelsen in Dubai and Denmark before setting the US$750,000 (S$1.06 million) Denmark Open alight with straight-game wins over Thailands’ world No. 36 Sitthikom Thammasin, India’s 11th-ranked Srikanth Kidambi, and now Axelsen. Loh said: “I prepared well before the matches, and gave my all during them. I’m just happy to be on the winning side. The tournament is not over so I got to stay focused throughout. “Viktor is Viktor, and Zii Jia is Zii Jia. Every player has different strengths and characteristics so I’m just going to go out there and do my best in the next match.” MORE ON THIS TOPIC Badminton: Singapore's Loh Kean Yew is now 5th in the world rankings Badminton: Loh Kean Yew faces tricky path in bid for back-to-back world titles
BWF WORLD JUNIOR MIXED TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022 17 - 22 OCTOBER Tournament | BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2022 (bwfbadminton.com) Singapore stands in 18th position out of 37 participating countries. The top 5 countries are: 1. South Korea, 2. Chinese Taipei, 3. Indonesia, 4. Japan and 5. China
The individual championships: BWF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022 24 - 30 OCTOBER Tournament | BWF World Junior Championships 2022 (bwfbadminton.com) Singapore players still in competition (Quarter Finals) on 28 October are: EVENT MD-U19 NGE JOO JIE JOHANN PRAJOGO (Singapore) V XU HUA YU ZHU YI JUN (China)
His first typewriter, badminton trophies: Room of Wee Kim Wee’s belongings to open to public in 2023 A recreation of Mr Wee Kim Wee's Cavenagh Court office in the new Wee Kim Wee Room at Singapore Management University. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Sarah Koh PUBLISHED NOV 4, 2022, 9:00 PM SGT SINGAPORE – His first typewriter and his first laptop – an IBM ThinkPad – adorn the room, a fitting part of a collection of personal belongings of the late Mr Wee Kim Wee, a journalist-turned-president. Adding to the personal touch is his trophy for winning the Singapore Junior Badminton Championship in 1938, one of several for the sport, his stash of rabbit figurines, which he collected as he was born in the Year of the Rabbit in 1915, and an autographed basketball from American basketball team Harlem Globetrotters. Come early 2023, the public will be able to visit the Wee Kim Wee room, housed at the Singapore Management University (SMU) Administration Building in Bras Basah. The room, roughly three-quarters the size of a badminton court, is a collaboration between Mr Wee’s family and SMU, and also features the late Mrs Wee’s belongings, such as her cheongsams. Mr Wee, who began his career as a clerk at The Straits Times and later became its deputy editor, died in 2005, aged 89, and Mrs Wee died in 2018, aged 102. Ms Wee Eng Hwa, 79, the fifth of Mr Wee’s seven children, said the personal touches of the belongings are aimed at achieving a meaningful, living heritage. “We hope everyone will enjoy reminiscing the past with the present in mind, as well as the many human stories embedded in each and every item within this room,” she said, speaking as she led a tour attended by ST. A highlight of the room is that it is a recreation of Mr Wee’s office, where he used to work and host visitors after serving as the fourth president of Singapore from 1985 to 1993. He had occupied the office space at Cavenagh Court, a condominium complex that has a view of the Istana, from 1993 to 2005. Dr Wee Hong Neo, 75, the sixth of Mr Wee’s children, was also a guide to the tour of the room on Friday. Mr and Mrs Wee had a son – the eldest, who died in 2015 – and six daughters. She said, as she gestured towards the windows with views of greenery outside the room: “When i first visited this space, I was blown away, because the set-up was exactly like Cavenagh Court. The French windows open up to a view of the trees on the Istana grounds, and his office was down the corridor after the dining table.“ Other standout artefacts in the room include a pair of paintings depicting Balinese women, bought by Mr Wee to commemorate a memorable interview he did as a young ST journalist in 1966. The interview with then Lieutenant-General Suharto in Jakarta earned him a front-page scoop – announcing Indonesia’s desire to end a three-year confrontation with Singapore and Malaysia. The room was launched on Friday during an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the Wee Kim Wee Centre at SMU. The centre was set up to foster intercultural exchange and dialogue to advance learning. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, guest of honour at the event, said the collaboration between the family and SMU “demonstrated how an educational institution and a private family can work together to safeguard our national heritage”. “It is critical for Singaporeans to remember our nation’s history and to honour the pioneers who fought for and achieved the stability and harmony that we now enjoy,” he added. A heritage fund created by SMU was also formally launched at the event. It would go towards the upkeep of the Wee Kim Wee room, support educational programmes by the Wee Kim Wee Centre, and grant scholarships to SMU students, especially those with financial needs. “Mr Wee did not have money to go through secondary school. I know for a fact that he would have been very pleased with every dollar that goes to supporting this fund,” said Ms Wee. MORE ON THIS TOPIC DBS chief Piyush Gupta to take over from Ho Kwon Ping as SMU chairman Ex-president Tony Tan awarded honorary degree for his role in setting up SMU
Loh Kean Yew - A Smash Hit How badminton champ Loh Kean Yew unleashes his winning smash | The Straits Times
Singapore Badminton Association aims to keep producing smash hits 1 of 2 Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong taking a group picture with Singapore badminton national players. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO David Lee Sports Correspondent PUBLISHED NOV 20, 2022, 9:32 PM SGT SINGAPORE – The past 12 months have been a roaring success for Singapore badminton, with the sport producing a world champion, Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals qualifiers and a pair of Commonwealth Games champions. But, Lawrence Leow, president of the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA), believes more needs to be done. At the inaugural SBA Awards and Gala Night held at the Marina Bay Sands on Sunday, he revealed his three-pronged plan to ensure that its recent success will not be a one-off achievement. The association aims to build a consistent pipeline of high-performing athletes, create a vibrant coaching and competition environment, and establish a self-sustainable business model that will put the SBA on a firm financial footing. Leow said: “To ensure that the association remains relevant and effective, we undertook an exercise – a health check, if you like – to re-examine, restructure, and reorganise ourselves.” The Covid-19 pandemic put the brakes on international sport in 2020, but the national badminton players have come out swinging since. In 2021, Loh Kean Yew became Singapore’s first world champion, while Yeo Jia Min became the first Singaporean to qualify for the BWF World Tour Finals. The doubles players also won a sprinkling of lower-tier titles. Consistency improved as Loh made it to the 2022 World Tour Finals, while mixed doubles pair Terry Hee and Jessica Tan claimed three titles, including an unprecedented Commonwealth Games mixed doubles gold. The players were recognised for their achievements at the gala, which was attended by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong. The SBA is planning to set up a badminton promotion centre at the Guillemard hall next year to encourage more youth to take up the sport, as well as to identify talent. A bursary award scheme is also being explored to support the education of promising players. Other projects in the pipeline include the setting up of the badminton coaching academy to serve as a centre of excellence as well as a badminton league to raise standards and grow the community. Leow feels strongly that a robust and viable pathway with a post-career safety net will help attract and retain more players. The SBA’s initiatives include scholarships for further studies, tie-ups with corporations for job placements, and seed funds to help set up academies for those who achieved significant milestones. “It is imperative that we set out a clear plan with multiple pathways to suit different attributes, needs and preferences,” said Leow, who thanked benefactors such as JK Technology chief executive officer Eugene Ang, who donated $500,000 to the post-career fund. “Unless and until a robust and viable post-playing career scheme with multiple pathways is in place, we will continue to experience significant talent drain as our players cannot help but be distracted from their game.” MORE ON THIS TOPIC Power and precision: The art and science behind Loh Kean Yew’s smash Badminton: Loh Kean Yew is first Singaporean man to reach World Tour Finals The association also launched the SBA Patrons Club with a founding batch of 20 members in a move to ensure a steady stream of financial resources. “The capabilities, network and resources they bring to the table will be invaluable to the development of our players and the sport of badminton,” said Leow. “Our senior players due for retirement can pick up life skills from our patrons sharing their experiences. It is in a way like a form of a mentorship scheme. Through the network of our patrons, our senior players can also tap into diverse job opportunities and smoothen their transition to new careers.” Singapore Badminton Association Awards Player of the Year: Loh Kean Yew Para Player of the Year: Ang Chee Hiong Media Player of the Year: Loh Kean Yew Young Player of the Year (Male): Johann Prajogo and Nge Joo Jie Young Player of the Year Award (Female): Megan Lee Most Improved Player of the Year: Crystal Wong Jia Ying and Jin Yujia Outstanding Performance of the Year: Terry Hee and Jessica Tan Team of the Year: Commonwealth Games Team MORE ON THIS TOPIC Badminton: Singapore's golden couple Terry Hee, Jessica Tan want to create more history For Loh Kean Yew, the No. 1 dream is Olympic gold
Singapore's Loh Kean Yew out of badminton World Tour Finals after losing final group match Vachira Vachira via Reuters Connect Loh Kean Yew ended the competition with one win from three group matches, placing third in the group, after his first group game win over Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-chen. Published December 9, 2022 Updated December 9, 2022 SINGAPORE — Singapore's Loh Kean Yew was on Friday (Dec 9) knocked out of the season-ending Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals in Bangkok after losing to Indonesia's Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in their final group match. World number three Loh needed a win to advance to the knockout stage after his loss to Indonesia's Jonatan Christie on Thursday. But Ginting proved too strong, beating Loh 21-12, 23-21 in 38 minutes on Friday in their Group B match. After losing the first set, Loh led for much of the second set. He was on his way to winning the set before Ginting rallied with six consecutive points to regain the lead. Despite saving two match points, Loh lost the second set and the match. READ ALSO Singapore's Loh Kean Yew loses second match at badminton World Tour Finals Before Friday's match, Loh and Ginting had an even head-to-head record, with two wins each. Loh ended the competition with one win from three group matches, placing third in the group, after his first group game win over Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-chen. The Indonesian pair of Christie and Ginting moved on to the semi-finals. Christie defeated Chou 21-13, 12-21, 21-17 in the other Group B match on Friday. Loh is the first Singaporean man to qualify for the prestigious tournament, which has a total prize money of US$1.5 million (S$2.03 million). Meanwhile, world number one Viktor Axelsen suffered defeat in his final Group A match against already-eliminated H S Prannoy of India 21-14, 17-21, 18-21. The defeat was only the third this year for the dominant 28-year-old Dane who had already qualified for the semi-finals of this competition. READ ALSO Singapore's Loh Kean Yew wins first match at badminton World Tour Finals Japan's Kodai Naraoka rounded out the men's semi-finals line-up after defeating China's Lu Guangzu 21-19, 21-15.
Badminton: Axelsen and Yamaguchi reign at BWF World Tour Finals while China sweep doubles events Denmark’s world No. 1 and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen and Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. PHOTOS: EPA-EFE David Lee Sports Correspondent UPDATED DEC 11, 2022, 11:15 PM SGT BANGKOK – Fittingly, four sets of world champions capped their respective brilliant seasons by capturing the season-ending Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals titles on Sunday. Denmark’s world No. 1 and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen was near unplayable in his 21-13, 21-14 men’s singles win over Indonesia’s seventh-ranked Anthony Sinisuka Ginting at the Nimibutr Arena. This is his fourth World Tour Finals triumph following wins in 2016, 2017 and 2021, which ties him with Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei for the most singles titles in the competition previously known as the Super Series Finals. Even by his lofty standards, it has been a remarkable year for the Dane, who won eight out of 13 individual and team tournaments, losing only thrice and retiring twice in 54 matches. He also welcomed the birth of his second daughter Aya in October and launched his biography Vindervilje, which in Danish means “will to win”. He definitely showed plenty of that in front of his wife Natalia Rhode, two-year-old Vega and Aya and his fans in Bangkok, where he was taken the distance by Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the semi-finals, before sealing the final with better control and sharper smashes. After the win, he displayed a stunned look before throwing his racket into the rabid crowd. Crediting his family and team, the 28-year-old told The Straits Times: “I have been able to find a really good way to do things and find balance on and off the court. I have had no injuries and been able to maintain really stable performances. “Today, it was a bit easier to control the shuttles because the wind wasn’t as crazy... I was able to lift a bit more and put up a really strong defence. I was also on form for the offensive situations. “Hopefully, 2023 will be a lot of good badminton for me. I missed the Singapore Open this year, but the plan is to return for sure. “I love Singapore and hopefully I can go back and play some good badminton there.” It was a tighter match in the women’s singles final as Akane Yamaguchi dug deep to beat Taiwanese world No. 3 Tai Tzu-ying 21-18, 22-20 for her second World Tour Finals triumph, adding to her 2017 victory. Tai is known for her unpredictable and unorthodox winners that catch most opponents off guard. But Yamaguchi is of a different ilk, bouncing around the court with impressive speed and agility to retrieve most of Tai’s deft flicks and even counter-attacking off them. Champion Akane Yamaguchi (right) and runner-up Tai Tzu Ying stand on the podium during the awards ceremony at the World Tour Finals 2022 in Bangkok. PHOTO: EPA-EFE The 25-year-old, who stands at 1.56m, said: “I am not tall, so speed and flexibility are important for me. Today, I was able to control the pace and exploit my opponent’s weakness. I’m happy to end a fruitful year on a high and I feel I can still get better in 2023.” Meanwhile, it was a clean sweep for China in the doubles as they seek to re-establish their dominance after their players were mostly locked down in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Liu Yuchen and Ou Xuanyi capped an outstanding first year as a men’s doubles pair by beating Indonesia’s world No. 6 Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan 21-17, 19-21, 21-12. Rising from world No. 264 to 11th in 2022, the Chinese made five finals and won three. They are the only non-world champions to win in Thailand the past week and are set to crack the top 10 for the first time. Liu, who won an Olympic silver with Li Junhui in 2021 before the latter retired, said: “It’s a great haul for us and gives us confidence that we are moving in the right direction.” Ou added: “Our mindset and combination got better in the second half of the year. Today, we played with good speed and aggression to put pressure on the opponents. “We made more mistakes in the second game to allow them to come back, but we learnt from that and stuck to our principles to win the match.” In the women’s doubles, world champions Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan’s experience told as the top-ranked pair coasted past Thai sisters and world No. 13 Benyapa and Nuntakarn Aimsaard 21-13, 21-14 to add to World Tour Finals titles in 2016 and 2019. Chen said: “We have been partners since our junior days in 2014. We are poles apart in terms of personality and preferences but we trust each other on court, which is the most important thing.” World No. 3 mixed doubles pair Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong rounded off the event, beating Thailand’s top-ranked Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-19, 18-21, 21-13 for a perfect record of 10 wins in as many finals in 2022. Zheng said: “It wasn’t easy playing against such a strong home pair in front of a noisy crowd. We stayed focused and patient and we are happy and grateful to end the season on a perfect note.” The singles winners earned US$120,000 (S$163,000) while the doubles champions took home US$126,000 each.
Badminton: Singapore’s Jin Yujia and Crystal Wong win first international women’s doubles title Singapore women's doubles pair Crystal Wong (left) and Jin Yujia after winning the Malaysia International Challenge. PHOTO: COURTESY OF SINGAPORE BADMINTON ASSOCIATION David Lee Sports Correspondent UPDATED DEC 18, 2022, 10:16 PM SGT SINGAPORE – The Republic’s badminton players ended the year on a high as world No. 41 women’s doubles pair Jin Yujia and Crystal Wong won the US$25,000 (S$34,000) Malaysia International Challenge on Sunday. Jin, 25, told The Straits Times: “We feel happy to end the year on a high note. We had ups and downs throughout the year and this title didn’t come easy. “But overall, I think our partnership is good. We communicate very well and are always open to new ideas and suggestions. We will work harder and aim higher in the new year.” In the final at the Arena Badminton Perak, they beat Thailand’s 385th-ranked Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn and Atitaya Povanon 21-12, 21-15 in 32 minutes and collected a cheque for US$1,975. This is the Singaporeans’ first title as a duo after 16 events. They started partnering in 2020 but entered competitions only in 2022 due to the pandemic. They had previously reached the final of the Italian International and Denmark Masters. However, in the Malaysia International Challenge, they were the highest-ranked combination and lived up to their top billing as they swept their opponents in straight games. After receiving a first-round bye, they beat three Malaysian pairs to reach the final. These include the unranked Go Pei Kee and Teoh Mei Xing (21-9, 21-13) in the round of 16, world No. 180 Yap Rui Chen and Yap Yee (21-13, 21-16) in the quarter-final and 235th-ranked Ng Qi Xuan and Teoh Le Xuan (21-15, 21-17) in the semi-final. Wong, 23, said: “We went in with confidence and a clear idea about our strategy. We made sure we set the pace and stayed in control to keep ahead of our opponents. “Our short-, medium- and long-term goals are to get into the top 30 before the Olympic qualification starts on May 1, qualify for Paris 2024, and consistently stay in the top 10 respectively.” National doubles coach Paulus Firman added that the Singapore Badminton Association will help push their Olympic bid by sending them to higher-level tournaments on the Badminton World Federation World Tour to try and earn more rankings points. He said: “They have the strength and speed in carrying out attacks, but there is still much to be improved, including stroke accuracy and resilience in defending after attacks.”
Badminton: Singapore teens Nge and Prajogo attain world No. 1 ranking for junior men’s doubles Singapore's Johann Prajogo (left) and Nge Joo Jie rose to the top of the junior men's doubles world rankings on Dec 27, 2022. PHOTO: BADMINTONPHOTO David Lee Sports Correspondent UPDATED DEC 27, 2022, 8:53 PM SG SINGAPORE – Singapore badminton ended the year on a high as junior men’s doubles pair Nge Joo Jie and Johann Prajogo, both 18, rose to the top of the world rankings. In the latest ranking lists released by the Badminton World Federation on Tuesday, the Singaporeans climbed two spots to overtake Indonesia’s Muh Putra Erwiansyah and Patra Harapan Rindorindo. This is only the second time Singapore has had a badminton world No. 1, after Yeo Jia Min became the top junior female player in June 2017. Nge, a second-year sports business student at Republic Polytechnic, said: “It’s an honour to create history for Team Singapore and we couldn’t have done it without our teammates, coaches, friends and family.” The youngsters, who have played as a pair since they were 15 and studying at the Singapore Sports School, have produced several eye-catching results in the junior circuit in 2022. In June, they won two titles at the Bulgaria Junior Open Championship and Croatia Valamar Junior Open. Four months later, they were unbeaten in four matches as Singapore finished 18th at the Oct 17-22 World Junior Mixed Team Championships in Spain. The following week, also in Santander, they reached the quarter-finals of the World Junior Championships where they lost 21-13, 21-17 to China’s eventual champions Xu Huayu and Zhu Yijun. National doubles coach Paulus Firman said: “They have great potential to be a strong men’s doubles pair for Singapore. They have the strength and speed in carrying out attacks, and can still improve on stroke accuracy, quality of defence, focus and their mental aspect during training and in tournaments.” In the senior circuit, they are ranked 196th and reached the last eight of the Lithuanian Open, Bahrain International Series and Bahrain International Challenge. From 2023, they will no longer play in junior competitions. Prajogo said: “Our goal is to represent Singapore in the major Games in 2023 and hopefully many more in the future.” Singapore Badminton Association chief executive officer Alan Ow said: “We are proud of the boys’ achievement and this is further testament that we can be competitive on the world stage. “The boys will have to continue to work hard as the leap to senior level is not easy. The coaches will ensure this transition is a smooth one and they must not forget that this is just the beginning of their badminton career.” MORE ON THIS TOPIC Badminton: Singapore’s Jin Yujia and Crystal Wong win first international women’s doubles title Badminton: ‘I am still me,’ says Loh Kean Yew, as he recounts his ‘rough’ start as a pro
