Singapore Badminton Scene

Discussion in 'Professional Players' started by Loh, Jul 2, 2012.

  1. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Loh Kean Yew loses to Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, takes SEA Games singles silver

    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew competes in the men's singles finals at the 31st SEA Games. (Photo: SportSG/Jeremy Lee)

    [​IMG]
    Matthew Mohan
    @MatthewMohanCNA
    22 May 2022 07:03PM(Updated: 22 May 2022 10:57PM)

    HANOI: In a match where he gave it his all, but it proved not enough, badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew's quest for the elusive SEA Games singles gold once again came to an end.

    The Singaporean took silver at the 31st SEA Games after losing to Thailand’s world number 18 Kunlavut Vitidsarn on Sunday (May 22).

    "I just went in and tried my best, and it just wasn't enough," Loh told reporters after a 13-21, 13-21 defeat to his 21-year-old opponent.

    At the Bac Giang gymnasium, the world number 10 got off to a good start and led 9-5 in the first game. But Kunlavut kept calm and capitalised on a number of the Singaporean's errors at the net to take the advantage.

    The Thai continued his momentum into the second game, leading from start to finish.

    On Saturday, the Singaporean beat Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh in the semi-finals after a nail-biting 21-15, 10-21, 23-21 victory.

    But Loh refused to use the fatiguing semi-finals loss as an excuse.

    "I was definitely tired. Of course, my opponent was also tired. It's about how you manage it and he managed it better than me," he explained.

    "I definitely feel I can play better than this," said Loh. "I'll go back and talk to my coach and work on some things and try to improve and get better."

    The last Singaporean to win the men's singles event was Wong Shoon Keat at the 1983 SEA Games.

    24-year-old Loh had also made the finals at the 2019 Games but took silver after being beaten by Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia. Loh also has a singles bronze from the 2015 edition.

    This is the third career meeting between Loh and Kunlavut. Prior to the match, they had won one encounter each.

    Kunlavut beat Singapore’s Jason Teh 21-11, 21-12 in the other men’s singles semi-finals.
     
  2. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    SEA Games: Changes explored, even as Singapore badminton matches best tally
    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew in the mens singles final at the 31st SEA games on May 22, 2022. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
    [​IMG]

    Sazali Abdul Aziz
    Correspondent

    PUBLISHED
    MAY 22, 2022, 8:15 PM SGT


    HANOI - The Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) will explore "structural changes" in its approach to preparing its shuttlers for competitions, said chief executive officer Alan Ow on Sunday (May 22).

    He made the comments shortly after Loh Kean Yew's 21-13, 21-13 defeat by Kunlavut Viditsarn in the men's singles final at the SEA Games.

    Ow told The Straits Times: "We have got a very good group of players we are working with... and for us now it's about regrouping quickly and improving in future competitions.

    "There are some structural changes for our players that we will look into, in terms of the coaching programme, psychological assistance and strength and conditioning.

    "Those are a few areas we are looking at, which will be important given the tournaments will be coming fast and furious."

    On the horizon for Loh and his teammates are the July 28-Aug 8 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and Asian Games in Hangzhou, which was slated for September but has been postponed with a date not yet announced.

    Even the next edition of the biennial SEA Games is only a year away, as the one in Hanoi had been postponed owing to the pandemic.

    In the Vietnamese capital, Singapore's shuttlers claimed one silver medal and five bronzes, a tally which ranked among their best performances at the regional multi-sport event. They had also won six medals in 2003 (one gold, five bronzes) and 2007 (four silvers, two bronzes).

    While Ow praised the Singapore players for good performances - singling out the men's doubles pair of Loh Kean Hean and Terry Hee for pushing Indonesian pair Pramudya Kusumawardana and Yeremia Rambitan close in the semi-final - he did concede that the SBA's target was to achieve "one or two more medals".

    He added that the SEA Games could provide lessons for the players and the association to improve.

    Singapore had come close to staging several upsets but were ultimately unable to sustain the challenge. For instance, they had seized a 2-0 lead in the men’s team semi-final against a Malaysian side made up mostly of second stringers and without their star Lee Zii Jia, only to go down 3-2.

    In the men’s doubles semi-final, Kean Hean and Hee, ranked 50th, had also stretched Indonesian top seeds Yeremia and Pramudya but eventually fell 15-21, 21-17, 21-19.

    "There were a couple of matches where we were there (nearly closing games) but could not finish them," said Ow.

    "So now the question is, 'How can we assist the players to put them in the best condition and be most mentally prepared to finish those chances off?'

    "In terms of abilities, we are able to challenge (in matches). All these fine details will be important to taking the next step."

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    SEA Games: I gave it my all, says Loh Kean Yew after world champ falls to Thai in final
    I overcame myself: Loh Kean Yew in SEA Games badminton singles final after tough fight
     
  3. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Badminton: Axelsen and host of world and regional champs to play at Singapore Open
    [​IMG]
    World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen and other champions have confirmed their entry for the July 12-17 Singapore Badminton Open. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
    [​IMG]

    David Lee

    PUBLISHED
    MAY 25, 2022, 10:30 AM SGT

    SINGAPORE - World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen, as well as newly crowned SEA Games champions Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Pornpawee Chochuwong have confirmed their entry for the July 12-17 Singapore Badminton Open.

    The trio are looking to win the US$370,000 (S$507,000) event for the first time, and while Olympic champion Axelsen will undoubtedly be the favourite to break his duck in Singapore, the Dane will face stiff competition from the likes of three-time world youth champion Kunlavut.

    They will be joined by other high-profile players such as Singapore world champion Loh Kean Yew, who was beaten by Kunlavut in the SEA Games men's singles final on Sunday (May 22).

    Other top Thais who will feature at the Singapore Indoor Stadium are 2016 women's singles champion Ratchanok Intanon, as well as world champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, the world's top mixed doubles pair.

    Dechapol and Sapsiree had made the final of the Thailand Open in Bangkok on Sunday but were beaten by China's Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, the Asian champions.

    Elsewhere, China will be sending a strong team which will include women's doubles world champions Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan and Olympic women's singles champion Chen Yu Fei.

    Yu Fei, who fell 21-15, 17-21, 21-12 to world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying of Chinese Taipei in Sunday's Thailand Open final, will be hoping to go one better in Singapore.

    India's 2019 women's singles world champion P. V. Sindhu will also be here.

    Early-bird ticket sales have commenced, with season passes starting from $100 for a family bundle of two tickets, to $488 for a platinum pass which comes with an exclusive seat complete with food and beverages.

    A single-day ticket starts from $5 for children and $30 for adults, to $350 for a single-day premium seat on the final day.

    These are available via Ticketmaster, and fans will enjoy early-bird rates until Tuesday (May 31) before general sales begin from Wednesday to July 17.

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: Tai beats Olympic champion Chen to win Thailand Open; Malaysia's Lee also triumphs
    Badminton: Tickets to Singapore Open on sale until June 17, single-day entry from $30
     
  4. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    800-seat hawker centre, indoor sports hall to open at Bukit Canberra in Sembawang from Q3
    1 of 2
    [​IMG]
    Health Minister Ong Ye Kung (right) and fellow advisers of Sembawang GRC Grassroots Organisations visiting the Bukit Canberra hub on June 5, 2022. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
    [​IMG]

    Anjali Raguraman
    Consumer Correspondent

    PUBLISHED
    JUN 5, 2022, 9:34 PM SGT

    SINGAPORE - Residents in the Sembawang area will have access to an 800-seat hawker centre and an indoor sports hall from the third quarter of the year.

    When completed, the Bukit Canberra integrated sports and community hub will also have a polyclinic, the first to be nestled within community facilities.

    "We have an ageing population in the northern part of Singapore, so it will add to the current infrastructure for primary care in the area," said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Sunday (June 5).

    The polyclinic will offer a range of medical services, including treatment for acute and chronic diseases, as well as women's health services such as cervical and breast cancer screening.

    "I hope we can synergise healthcare with all the social activities to bring about preventive care and healthy living for the residents in this town," said Mr Ong during a visit to the construction site in Canberra Link.

    The polyclinic's opening date has not yet been announced.

    Initially slated to be open in the first half of 2020, the 12ha hub developed by Sport Singapore brings together multiple agencies including the People's Association, Ministry of Health and National Parks Board.

    It will eventually have five swimming pools and the biggest ActiveSG gym in Singapore.

    It will also house national monument Canberra House, formerly known as the old Admiralty House, which will be converted into a library.

    "Because of Covid-19, we've been delayed 1½ to two years... we will see the facilities opening up progressively, and I hope once it opens, residents know and feel that it's worth the wait," said Mr Ong.

    He was joined on the site visit by fellow Sembawang GRC MPs Poh Li San, Vikram Nair and Lim Wee Kiak.

    The hawker centre, which is nearly completed, will have space for 44 stalls.

    [​IMG]
    An artist’s impression of Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre. PHOTO: SEMBAWANG SPORTS AND COMMUNITY HUB
    It will be equipped with sustainability features such as a food digester, as part of a food waste conveyance system to reduce the facility's environmental footprint.

    The indoor sports hall will be able to accommodate 12 badminton courts, or three basketball or volleyball courts.


    The hall could also hold 2,000 people at a time for community events, or be reconfigured with a retractable seating gallery that can seat up to 500 people at a time.

    In the coming months, the hub will host events including Pesta Sukan (Malay for "festival of sports") in July; and the Sembawang GRC National Day 2022 observance ceremony in August.

    [​IMG]
    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    New hawker centres to open this year, more support to be given to hawkers
    Sembawang Hot Spring Park reopens with new cascading pool and wheelchair ramps
     
  5. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    800-seat hawker centre, indoor sports hall to open at Bukit Canberra in Sembawang from Q3
    1 of 2
    [​IMG]
    Health Minister Ong Ye Kung (right) and fellow advisers of Sembawang GRC Grassroots Organisations visiting the Bukit Canberra hub on June 5, 2022. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
    [​IMG]

    Anjali Raguraman
    Consumer Correspondent

    PUBLISHED
    JUN 5, 2022, 9:34 PM SGT

    SINGAPORE - Residents in the Sembawang area will have access to an 800-seat hawker centre and an indoor sports hall from the third quarter of the year.

    When completed, the Bukit Canberra integrated sports and community hub will also have a polyclinic, the first to be nestled within community facilities.

    "We have an ageing population in the northern part of Singapore, so it will add to the current infrastructure for primary care in the area," said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Sunday (June 5).

    The polyclinic will offer a range of medical services, including treatment for acute and chronic diseases, as well as women's health services such as cervical and breast cancer screening.

    "I hope we can synergise healthcare with all the social activities to bring about preventive care and healthy living for the residents in this town," said Mr Ong during a visit to the construction site in Canberra Link.

    The polyclinic's opening date has not yet been announced.

    Initially slated to be open in the first half of 2020, the 12ha hub developed by Sport Singapore brings together multiple agencies including the People's Association, Ministry of Health and National Parks Board.

    It will eventually have five swimming pools and the biggest ActiveSG gym in Singapore.

    It will also house national monument Canberra House, formerly known as the old Admiralty House, which will be converted into a library.

    "Because of Covid-19, we've been delayed 1½ to two years... we will see the facilities opening up progressively, and I hope once it opens, residents know and feel that it's worth the wait," said Mr Ong.

    He was joined on the site visit by fellow Sembawang GRC MPs Poh Li San, Vikram Nair and Lim Wee Kiak.

    The hawker centre, which is nearly completed, will have space for 44 stalls.

    [​IMG]
    An artist’s impression of Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre. PHOTO: SEMBAWANG SPORTS AND COMMUNITY HUB
    It will be equipped with sustainability features such as a food digester, as part of a food waste conveyance system to reduce the facility's environmental footprint.

    The indoor sports hall will be able to accommodate 12 badminton courts, or three basketball or volleyball courts.


    The hall could also hold 2,000 people at a time for community events, or be reconfigured with a retractable seating gallery that can seat up to 500 people at a time.

    In the coming months, the hub will host events including Pesta Sukan (Malay for "festival of sports") in July; and the Sembawang GRC National Day 2022 observance ceremony in August.

    [​IMG]
    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    New hawker centres to open this year, more support to be given to hawkers
    Sembawang Hot Spring Park reopens with new cascading pool and wheelchair ramps
     
  6. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew loses in Indonesia Masters semi-final
    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew hits a return to Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen during the Indonesia Masters men’s singles semi-final in Jakarta on June 11, 2022. PHOTO: AFP
    [​IMG]

    David Lee

    PUBLISHED
    JUN 11, 2022, 8:09 PM SGT

    SINGAPORE - After a thrilling Indonesia Masters men's singles semi-final on Saturday (June 11), Loh Kean Yew flashed his trademark boyish smile and hugged his conqueror, world No. 4 Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei.

    But once he had acknowledged the appreciation of the boisterous Istora Senayan crowd in Jakarta, the world No. 10 Singaporean would have been bitterly disappointed with the 21-16, 8-21, 21-19 defeat.

    Chou now leads their head-to-head record 3-2 but it was world champion Loh, 24, who started brightly, building up a 9-5 lead.

    The 32-year-old Taiwanese changed tactics though, moving the game closer to the net where he forced his opponent into making more errors to take the opener.

    Loh imposed himself much better and easily claimed the second game.

    In the decider, both players traded sharp cross-court smashes and the lead, with no player having more than a three-point advantage.

    Chou led 11-9 at the interval, but Loh seemed to have turned the tide when his smash clipped the tape and landed in. He led 17-16, but the momentum shifted after a service error and he never went ahead again.

    The India Open and SEA Games finalist would rue a particular point at 19-19 when he did well to stay in the rally and seize the initiative, only to rush an attack and punch the shuttlecock long.

    Loh then pulled a return wide as an elated Chou advanced to the final where he will meet Denmark's Olympic champion and world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen, who beat home favourite Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 21-15, 21-15.

    For his efforts at the Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 500 event, Loh earned US$5,220 (S$7,254) and should pick up enough ranking points to reclaim his career-high world No. 9 position from India's Lakshya Sen next week.

    Earlier in the tournament, Singaporeans Yeo Jia Min, Terry Hee and Jessica Tan were knocked out at the first hurdle of the women's singles and mixed doubles respectively, while men's doubles pair Loh Kean Hean and Hee lost in the second round.

    Their next tournament is the June 14-19 Indonesia Open, a Super 1000 event at the same venue.

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton star Loh Kean Yew included in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list
    SEA Games: I gave it my all, says Loh Kean Yew after world champ falls to Thai in final
     
  7. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Loh Kean Yew, Lee Zii Jia to resume rivalry in Indonesia Open quarter-finals
    [​IMG]
    Chia Han Keong

    ·Editor
    Thu, 16 June 2022, 2:13 pm·2-min rea
    • [​IMG]
    Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew (left) and Malaysia shuttler Lee Zii Jia. (PHOTOS: Getty Images)

    SINGAPORE — Rivals since childhood, Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew and Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia will do battle again in the Indonesia Open quarter-finals on Friday (17 June), after successfully negotiating their respective last-16 ties.

    World No.9 Loh took just 37 minutes to beat France's world No.26 Toma Junior Popov 21-16, 21-9 at the Istoran Senayan Stadium in Jakarta on Thursday. It was his second victory over Popov in as many weeks, after also defeating the Frenchman at last week's Indonesia Masters tournament, which was also held at the same venue.

    Meanwhile, world No.5 Lee was also trouble-free in his last-16 tie with India's world No.30 Sameer Verma, as he comfortably won 21-10, 21-13 in 41 minutes.

    This sets up an intriguing tie between the reigning world champion Loh and the current Asian champion Lee. Loh had memorably won the Badminton World Championships men's singles title in the Spanish city of Huelva last December, while Lee did the same at last month's Badminton Asia Championships in Manila.

    The pair of 24-year-olds have been facing against each other since they were youth shuttlers in Malaysia. Loh, who was born in Penang before becoming a Singapore citizen in 2015, had regularly faced Lee in Malaysia's national junior circuit. He most notably defeated Lee in the Under-12 final of the National Junior Grand Prix Finals in 2009.

    However, Lee has a better head-to-head professional record against Loh, with three wins in five previous encounters. In their most recent match, Lee easily defeated Loh 21-6, 21-14 in February's Badminton Asia Team Championships. Loh's last win against Lee came at the Hylo Open in Germany last November, when Lee retired midway through the third game.

    Loh, who was runner-up in last year's Indonesia Open, open his campaign this year by defeating South Korea's Heo Kwang-hee in the round of 32 on Tuesday, while Lee also advanced after beating Thailand's Sitthikom Thammasin on the same day.

    The Indonesia Open is one of three annual tournaments to be granted Super 1000 level on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour circuit, and boasts a total prize purse of US$1.2 million (S$1.7 million).
     
  8. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew loses to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in Indonesia Open q-final
    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew (right) congratulating Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia after his Indonesia Open quarter-final loss in Jakarta on June 17, 2022. PHOTO: BADMINTONPHOTO
    [​IMG]

    David Lee

    PUBLISHED
    JUN 17, 2022, 8:07 PM SGT

    Loh Kean Yew was left to rue his inability to convert his only match point, as Malaysia’s Asian champion Lee Zii Jia extended his winning record against the Singaporean world champion to 6-2 with a hard-fought 21-18, 16-21, 22-20 win in their Indonesia Open men’s singles quarter-final on Friday (June 17).

    In the 65-minute thriller, both players took turns to go on mini-runs in the latest instalment of the rivalry between two 24-year-olds, who were both junior players growing up in Malaysia before Loh moved to Singapore as a 13-year-old.

    “All three games were played at a high intensity. Whoever handles the crucial moments better will win, and today he did this better,” said Loh.

    “There is no such thing as ‘I should have won’ until the match is actually won. I’m satisfied with my overall performance but I still need to handle the key moments better.”

    Despite struggling with the drift, world No. 5 Lee seized the initiative early on, but Loh managed to keep pace and entered the interval with an 11-9 advantage.

    The Singaporean was still leading 17-16 when Lee mounted his comeback, which was virtually sealed by two superb full-stretch saves to make it 20-18, before requiring just one game point to take the opener.

    The second game followed a similar vein, although it was world No. 9 Loh who made the stronger start this time as he raced to a 4-0 lead with the boisterous Istora Senayan crowd chanting his name.

    Lee caught up at 6-6 and 11-11, but paid the price for his all-out attack with several of his smashes going wide as Loh forced a decider.

    They were again neck and neck in the rubber game, with Loh looking like he would overcome a few net cords that went against him as he came from behind to lead 20-19.

    But his familiar foe capitalised on his hastiness at match point, before an angled drop shot sealed victory. In the semi-finals, Lee will meet Denmark’s world No. 1 and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, who defeated Indonesia’s sixth-ranked Anthony Ginting 21-13, 19-21, 21-9.

    Loh will pick up US$6,600 (S$9,180) in prize money and turn his sights to the June 28-July 3 Malaysia Open.

    National singles coach Kelvin Ho said: “Both players were very complete today, attacking and defending well. It was a matter of who made the most unforced errors.

    “Kean Yew was too rushed at match point and not ready enough for the drop shot. We will continue to work on his shot stability and how to keep opponents under pressure in high-intensity situations.”

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew loses in Indonesia Masters semi-final
    Badminton star Loh Kean Yew included in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list
     
  9. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Badminton: SBA president Leow eyes sustained success after returning unopposed
    [​IMG]
    SBA president Lawrence Leow returned unopposed to lead a team of 16 management committee members. PHOTO: ST FILE
    [​IMG]

    David Lee

    PUBLISHED
    JUN 25, 2022, 5:01 PM SGT

    SINGAPORE - A historic world championship was delivered under his watch, but Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) president Lawrence Leow knows he and his team cannot rest on their laurels if they want sustained success.

    On Saturday (June 25), the 63-year-old businessman was returned unopposed to lead a team of 16 management committee members for another two years. There are seven new faces in his team, with the key positions to be decided later.

    Entering his third two-year term, Leow is committed to improving players' competition opportunities, financial support and post-career options to make badminton a viable career.

    Speaking after the AGM at the Singapore Swimming Club, he said: "Establishing a player-centric model becomes a priority as we put in place programmes and initiatives to create the platform for our players to train, develop, and excel in their game."

    It has been a great year for Singapore badminton. Loh Kean Yew's world title in December was the crown jewel among 10 titles, and there was a first bronze medal from the men's team at the Badminton Asia Team Championships.

    Yeo Jia Min also became the first Singaporean to qualify for the prestigious World Tour Finals
    as one of the eight best-performing women's singles players last year.

    The ensuing surge of interest has seen the SBA navigate the Covid-19 pandemic better than most, as its income grew year-on-year by more than 20 per cent to almost $3.6 million, which helped them cover an expenditure of $3.5 million.

    The income growth is partly due to more opportunities for fundraising, as well as partnerships with sponsors such as Horlicks which has led to more badminton clinics in schools.

    As Singapore made its mark on the badminton world map, others are beginning to take notice. World No. 1 and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen's invite to Loh to train together in Dubai has been well-documented, but in the past week, German players were in town to train with the local players ahead of next week's Malaysia Open.

    The national team will also have a preparatory stint in Denmark before the July 28-Aug 8 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

    Leow said: "We are trying to train differently, where there is more sharing between different countries, and our players can benefit from experiences with different styles in this ever-changing game."

    More improvements are in store in the months ahead, as the SBA pushes for more of its shuttlers to qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

    The Singapore Badminton Open will be upgraded from a Super 500 competition - after this year's edition from July 12-17 - to a Super 750 event from 2023 to 2026.

    A Super 750 event ranks third in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour, behind only the World Tour Finals and four Super 1000 tournaments. It has a minimum prize purse of US$850,000 (S$1.2 million), more than double the Super 500 event's US$370,000 prize money.

    Bigger rewards naturally attract more top players, but this may also reduce the chances of more Singaporean players featuring or progressing deep into the competition.

    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew (left) won the world title and Yeo Jia Min qualified for the prestigious World Tour Finals last year. PHOTOS: LIANHE ZAOBAO, AFP
    But Leow said: "We want to continue attracting the best in the world, not just for the Singapore fans, but also for our athletes... This premium (Super 750) position will make Singapore a must-stop when the BWF World Tour comes to this part of the world.

    "Part of our Vision 2025 masterplan is for our shuttlers to be regularly competitive on the world stage. The recent successes of our athletes have also given us the confidence that when we host the world's best, we will not just play good hosts, but we will also be competitive on the big stage."

    To groom the next generation of world-beaters, the SBA will ramp up plans to set up Regional Training Centres (RTC) across the island. Managed by Doublestar Sports, the first RTC is already up and running at Evans Road, and other centres will be set up in Hougang, Tampines and Jurong West.

    The reopening of the former Singapore Badminton Hall at Guillemard Road
    is also scheduled for the second half of next year, and Leow hopes the iconic site will be the home of Singapore badminton, where thousands of children can visit to get acquainted with the sport and be inspired by the top athletes who will also train there.

    He added: "Our ultimate goal is to create a strong badminton culture in Singapore, supported by a sustainable framework and system that can withstand the test of time and change in personnel, leading to greater achievements and success that will make Singapore a top badminton nation."

    SBA management committee: Lawrence Leow (president), Hamid Khan, Ang Leng Seng, Arun Keshav Cavale*, Chan Wei, Chan Wing Kai*, Koh Chin Beng*, Maksim Lai*, Ian Lee, Leong Lijie*, Bryan Long, Ng Yoke Weng, Pek Choon Lee, Kenny Quek, Victor Sim*, Victor Tan*, Wong Shoon Keat

    *denotes new members

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: Axelsen and host of world and regional champs to play at Singapore Open
    SEA Games: Changes explored, even as Singapore badminton matches best tally
     
  10. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Badminton: Loh and Hee into second round of Malaysia Open
    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Hean (left) and Terry Hee competing at the 31st SEA games in Vietnam, on May 21, 2022. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

    PUBLISHED

    JUN 29, 2022, 6:16 PM SGT

    KUALA LUMPUR - Singapore's badminton men's doubles pair Loh Kean Hean and Terry Hee beat South Korea's 46th-ranked Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae 21-14, 21-19 in the first round of the Malaysia Open on Wednesday (June 29).

    The world No. 50 pair will play Malaysia's world No. 6 Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the round of 16 on Thursday.

    Earlier in the day, Hee had partnered his wife Tan Wei Han in the mixed doubles, where they beat Indonesia's 325th-ranked Hafiz Faizal and Serena Kani 21-14, 21-18.

    The world No. 39 duo will face Denmark's 15th-ranked Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje today for a place in the quarter-finals.

    The unseeded Danes stunned third seeds Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino from Japan 15-21, 21-17, 22-20.

    In the men's singles, Japan's second seed Kento Momota was given a walkover by Thai Kantaphon Wangcharoen while the hosts' fifth-seeded Lee Zii Jia beat Ireland's Nguyen Nhat 21-15, 21-11.

    Women's singles second seed Tai Tzu-ying of Chinese Taipei and fourth seed Chen Yufei of China also progressed to the second round.

    The Taiwanese eased past Belgian Lianne Tan 21-13, 21-9 while Chen beat compatriot Zhang Yiman 21-18, 21-8.

    In Tuesday's first round, Singapore's top men's singles player, world No. 9 and reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew, had lost 21-19, 21-12 to Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu, while top women's player Yeo Jia Min fell to South Korean third seed An Se-young 21-12, 21-15.


    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: Axelsen finishes off Zhao to retain Indonesia Open, Tai wins women's title
    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew loses to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in Indonesia Open q-final
     
    lodoss likes this.
  11. lodoss

    lodoss Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,357
    Likes Received:
    711
    Location:
    Singapore
    good win over the Korean MD :)
     
  12. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Badminton: Japan's Momota claws through at Malaysia Open but both S'pore doubles pairs ousted
    [​IMG]
    Momota's career took a hit in January 2020 when he was involved in a road accident just hours after his victory at the Malaysia Masters. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

    PUBLISHED
    11 HOURS AGO

    KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Japanese badminton ace Kento Momota narrowly pulled through his first Malaysian match in over two years on Thursday (June 30), as he recovers from a car accident in 2020 that sent his career spiralling downwards.

    In a nail-biting encounter lasting 55 minutes, the world No. 2 beat Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka-long 11-21, 21-8, 21-18 in the second round at the Malaysia Open.

    Momota walked into Kuala Lumpur's Axiata Arena the fresher of the pair after his opponent in the first round, Thailand's Kantaphon Wangcharoen, forfeited their match on Wednesday.

    Cries of "Momota, Momota" greeted the former two-time world champion from the mostly Malaysian crowd, as he and Ng - ranked 13th in the world - took to the court.

    But victory did not come easily for Momota, with unforced errors forcing the 27-year-old to tumble 11-21 in the first set.

    Recovering in the second game, Momota then dominated Ng 21-8 and kept his nerve to win 21-18 in a tight decider.

    Singapore's involvement in the tournament ended with men's doubles pair Loh Kean Hean and Terry Hee's 21-16, 21-13 loss to Malaysia's world No. 6 Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the last 16.

    Earlier, Hee had partnered his wife Jessica Tan Wei Han in the mixed doubles, falling 21-14, 21-16 to Denmark's 15th-ranked Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje.


    [​IMG]

    Momota's career took a hit in January 2020 when he was involved in a road accident just hours after his victory at the Malaysia Masters, a tragedy that killed his driver and left him with a fractured eye socket.

    Out of action for a year, the left-hander has found it hard to bounce back from injury, flopping at the Tokyo Olympics and losing in the first round at four of five singles tournaments he has entered this year.

    Momota, whose 2020 Malaysia Masters title was his last triumph, will next face Indonesia's world No. 26 Shesar Hiren Rhustavito in the last eight on Friday. Rhustavito stunned Malaysian fifth seed Lee Zii Jia 21-19, 19-21, 21-16.

    Another major shock came in the women's singles, where South Korean third seed An Se-young was outlasted 21-23, 21-18, 21-16 by China's unseeded Han Yue.

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: SBA president Leow eyes sustained success after returning unopposed
    Badminton: Axelsen and host of world and regional champs to play at Singapore Open
     
  13. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Lee Cheuk-yiu sends Singapore shuttler and former flatmate Loh Kean Yew packing at Malaysia Open
    JUNE 29, 2022PUBLISHED AT 6:26 PM
    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew lost the match to his former teammate at the Malaysia Open.
    The Straits Times file

    Lee Cheuk-yiu provided a big shock after beating former flatmate and reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew in the Malaysia Open on Tuesday (June 29).

    But the Hong Kong badminton No 2 will now face an even sterner test when he takes on world No 1 Viktor Axelsen in Thursday's second-round encounter.

    More from AsiaOneRead the condensed version of this story, and other top stories with NewsLite.
    The 25-year-old Lee and Singapore's Loh shared a flat during a training camp in Dubai last month, but went toe-to-toe at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

    Lee fell behind 10-5 in the first set, but he fought back to win six points in a row and take the lead, before edging it 21-19 over world No 9 Loh.

    The world No 15 led throughout the second set and took it comfortably by a score of 21-12, with the match lasting less than 40 minutes.

    "Our new men's coach Wong Tat Meng played an important role, whether it was with his analysis before the game or his courtside advice - it helps the player deliver their best and take the momentum," Hong Kong head coach Tim He Yiming said.


    "With Tat Meng's advice, Lee played aggressively on the front court, which caused his opponent to lose momentum. It also shows that the player has faith in him."

    Coach Wong, who led South Korea to their first Uber Cup title in 12 years last month, has signed up with Hong Kong on a two-year contract.

    Lee will next face another familiar face from Dubai in Denmark's Axelsen, who hosted the training camp, and defeated Frenchman Brice Leverdez 22-20, 21-7 on Tuesday.

    Lee - who was invited to join Axelsen's camp, where he trained alongside Loh and India No 1 Lakshya Sen - will be up against it but has a blueprint for defeating the Tokyo Olympic champion.

    "Lee is the underdog in the second round, but he beat Viktor in the Hong Kong Open in 2019, so anything is possible," coach He added.

    Read Also
    Loh Kean Yew breaks into top 10 of badminton world rankings for the first time
    [​IMG]


    Hong Kong mixed doubles pair Tse Ying-suet and Tang Chun-man also progressed to the second round, securing a battling 21-18, 21-18 victory over Malaysians Choong Hon Jian and Peck Yen Wei.

    "Suet returned to training last week, and based on her performance, I believe she has recovered well," coach He said of the 30-year-old Tse, who tested positive for Covid-19 this month. "Their experience helped them win today."

    Also in action in the mixed doubles were Hong Kong's Chang Tak-ching and Ng Wing-yung, who were beaten 23-21, 8-21, 21-18 by Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto and Lisa Ayu Kusumawati of India.

    There was a shock in the first round of the women's singles, with world No 1 Akane Yamaguchi losing 21-14, 21-14 against world No 31 Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia.

    On Wednesday, Hong Kong No 1 Angus Ng Ka-long will compete in the first round of the men's singles against Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands.

    This article was first published in South China Morning Post.
     
  14. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew gets kind draw for Singapore Open, will meet a seed only in semis
    [​IMG]
    Loh Kean Yew (pictured) will face France's Brice Leverdez in the first round of the July 12-17 tournament. PHOTO: AFP
    [​IMG]

    Laura Chia

    PUBLISHED
    JUL 1, 2022, 1:14 PM SGT

    KUALA LUMPUR - World champion Loh Kean Yew has been handed a favourable draw for the Singapore Badminton Open (SBO) after second seed Anders Antonsen pulled out of the event to deal with an injury.

    Organisers released the draw on Friday (July 1) and with the Danish world No. 3's withdrawal, world No. 9 Loh will not face a seeded player until the semi-finals.

    He will face France's Brice Leverdez in the first round of the July 12-17 tournament, before possibly meeting Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto, who beat Loh in their only other clash at the 2019 Australian Open.

    But to be crowned the first Singaporean men's singles champion since Wee Choon Seng in 1962, Loh will likely have to get past Indonesian world No. 6 Anthony Ginting in the semi-finals before a possible final against world No. 1 and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, who headlines the other half of the draw.

    The last Singaporean player who reached the men's singles final at home was Ronald Susilo in 2002. Then, he lost to China's Chen Hong.

    Loh is also relishing the chance to compete in front of a home crowd again after the Singapore Open was not held in the last two years because of the pandemic.

    The 25-year-old said: "It has been two years since the last SBO and I still remember the thrill of having the home crowd behind me."

    With event organisers expecting a record crowd of over 6,000, Loh is hoping that he "can give them something to celebrate".

    Loh has played Leverdez in only one other encounter, at the 2019 Thailand Masters semi-finals, which he won 14-21, 21-10, 21-14 en route to winning the tournament.

    However, for now, he is keeping his feet on the ground, having suffered a first-round exit at the ongoing Malaysia Open, where he lost 21-19, 21-12 to Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu on Tuesday.

    He said: "Although the results could have been better, I feel I am slowly getting back to my best after spending some time out with Covid in March.

    "The next few weeks will be a busy period, with four tournaments in a month. It will be a good test for me and I look forward to the challenge."

    A star-studded field will be in action at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, including Chinese women's singles Olympic champion Chen Yufei and Chinese Taipei's world No. 2 Tai Tzu-ying, who triumphed at Kallang in 2019 and 2017.

    India's 2019 world champion P. V. Sindhu and Thai world No. 8 Ratchanok Intanon will also feature in Singapore.

    Tai, who is also the top seed, said: "I got my first title in Singapore, it's a place that is full of memories. I am happy that I can go back to Singapore, a meaningful country to me, after so many years."

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew loses to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in Indonesia Open q-final
    Badminton: Loh Kean Yew loses in Indonesia Masters semi-final
     
  15. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Badminton: Jason Teh makes Singapore Open main draw after marathon qualifiers
    [​IMG]
    Jason Teh beat Denmark's Victor Svendsen and Malaysia's Cheam June Wei in matches lasting more than an hour. PHOTO: BADMINTON ASIA
    [​IMG]

    David Lee

    PUBLISHED
    JUL 12, 2022, 7:12 PM SGT

    SINGAPORE - For four years, he made the daily commute across the Causeway from his Johor Bahru home to study in Singapore. As such, the Republic's shuttler Jason Teh is no stranger to going the distance.

    That quality helped the 21-year-old prevail in two marathon qualifying matches on Tuesday (July 12) to reach the main draw of the US$370,000 (S$512,000) Singapore Badminton Open.

    Playing the first match of the day at 9am, the world No. 90 outlasted Denmark's 62nd-ranked Victor Svendsen over 67 minutes to win 24-26, 21-18, 21-14 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

    Less than two hours later, after wolfing down a packet of economic rice and a banana, he was back to beat Malaysia's world No. 73 Cheam June Wei 27-29, 21-19, 23-21 in 74 minutes, incredibly saving seven match points from 20-13 down.

    After playing 264 points to progress to the first round on his first attempt, Teh did not collapse to the ground, but stood tall to pump his fist and salute the raucous home crowd.

    "Tired lah, but I can deal with it," he told The Straits Times.

    "Ever since I joined the national team at 17, I have been seeing the senior players playing in the Singapore Open. So, to be able to qualify for the main draw in front of my father and older sister and local fans is something special. I'm extra motivated and don't want to disappoint my supporters."

    Born in Penang, Teh started playing badminton when he was four. He moved to Singapore to study when he was 11 and eventually enrolled in the Singapore Sports School.

    So eager was he to play professionally, he stopped school after Secondary 4 to enlist for national service so that he could complete it as soon as possible and resume full-time training.

    "Singapore Sports School's systematic training convinced me to make badminton my career, and I wanted to do whatever I could to go as far as I can, said Teh.

    While his potential is affirmed by the national selectors, as well as top-four finishes at lower-tier events in Poland, Czech Republic and Bahrain last year, it has been a rougher ride this year as he found himself throwing away good leads to lose matches.

    He said: "I have been dealing with this problem since the Korea Open in April, and struggling with confidence and conditioning issues since. Today, I thought I was going to lose like this again but I just tried to focus on the rallies and I'm happy to find a breakthrough."

    Teh will meet 34-year-old Indonesian and 2013 Singapore Open champion, Tommy Sugiarto in the first round on Wednesday, and a potential round-of-16 clash with teammate and world champion Loh Kean Yew awaits.

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    How did Loh Kean Yew and Viktor Axelsen's badminton bromance begin?
    Badminton: Local shuttlers eyeing home run at Singapore Open

    But as he has learnt over the past few months, he is not going to get ahead of himself.

    He said: "I have always trained with Kean Yew but never played against him in a tournament, so that would be a good opportunity, but I cannot be fantasising about this when I have not even played my next match.

    "Tommy is a very good and experienced player. I have to forget about today, recover and prepare well."

    Many of Teh's teammates also had reason to cheer as Grace Chua (women's singles), Wesley Koh and Junsuke Kubo, Andy Kwek and Jason Wong (men's doubles), and Crystal Wong and Koh (mixed doubles) made it to the main draw.

    Meanwhile, world No. 48 pair Terry Hee and Loh Kean Hean progressed to the men's doubles round of 16 for the first time after defeating India's Krishna Prasad Garaga and Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala 21-15, 19-21, 21-17 in 50 minutes.

    Singapore's top singles players Kean Yew and Yeo Jia Min, as well as mixed doubles duo Jessica Tan and Hee will be in first-round action on Wednesday.

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: SBA president Leow eyes sustained success after returning unopposed
    Badminton player Loh Kean Yew is The Straits Times' Athlete of the Year 2021
     
  16. lodoss

    lodoss Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,357
    Likes Received:
    711
    Location:
    Singapore
    Jason need to play more tournaments to gain xp. I felt he lost to the veteran Tommy tactically.
     
  17. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Badminton: Not 'brave' enough, says Loh Kean Yew after Singapore Open semi-final defeat
    [​IMG]
    Singapore's Loh Kean Yew hits a return against Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting at the Singapore Open on July 16, 2022. PHOTO: AFP
    [​IMG]

    David Lee

    PUBLISHED
    JUL 16, 2022, 8:57 PM SGT

    SINGAPORE - As the smashes were fired into the net and the drop shots landed wide, Loh Kean Yew's hopes of becoming the first local men’s singles player to win the Singapore Badminton Open since Wee Choon Seng did 60 years ago slowly extinguished.

    The world champion was brutally honest – he felt he was not "brave" enough – in his assessment after he lost 21-17, 21-14 to Indonesian Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in their semi-final in front of a sold-out 6,000-strong crowd at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday (July 16).

    Despite having a 11-7 lead in the first game, and a 9-8 advantage in the second, world No. 9 Loh was unusually passive and struggled to deal with Ginting’s ferocious attacks and deceptive net plays.

    Many times, the Singaporean would play predictable lifts to the mid-court which made it easy for sixth-ranked Ginting to win the point with powerful smashes.

    Loh, who earned US$5,365 (S$7,509) for his efforts in the US$370,000 Super 500 event, agreed, and said: “Being brave in the game means to try out different shots, to change the tactics and game plan. That’s something that I didn’t do well.

    “He played a very good net game, was good in attack and defence and mastered the wind conditions. He played a very complete game.”

    He also admitted the high stakes and the opportunity to create history got to him. Ginting also later remarked that he felt Loh looked nervous.

    “I wanted it too much, I thought of the result much more than the process,” said Loh, 25. “This is what I’ve been trying to work on. I need to focus on the process.

    “I’m sorry to disappoint the fans who were hoping to watch me play one more time tomorrow. I’m thankful for their support and will continue to work hard on my game. Hopefully, one day I’ll reach the final.”

    Ginting, the Tokyo 2020 men’s singles bronze medallist, will meet Japan’s world No. 43 Kodai Naraoka in today’s final.

    The 25-year-old, who was runner-up at the 2019 edition to Kento Momota, said: “I tried so hard to push him, attack him, and play more offensively as Kean Yew has fast footwork. I tried to make his movement less smooth and play patiently.”

    Naraoka had outlasted China’s 26th-ranked Zhao Junpeng 21-18, 25-23 in the earlier last-four encounter, prevailing in 50 minutes. He is aiming to win his first title on the BWF World Tour.

    In the women’s single final, India’s world No. 7 P. V. Sindhu plays China’s 11th-ranked Wang Zhiyi.

    Sindhu, who extended her record against Japan’s Saena Kawakami to 3-0 with a comprehensive 21-15, 21-7 win in the semi-final, has won her two other finals this year at the Syed Modi International and Swiss Open.

    Wang, meanwhile, finally beat Japan’s Aya Ohori for the first time in four attempts with a 21-14, 21-14 victory yesterday. Her only previous meeting with Sindhu was a loss in the first round of this year’s All England Open.

    In the all-Indonesia men’s doubles semi-finals, world No. 3 Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan seemed thrown off by a scoreboard malfunction delay while leading 18-17 in the second game after winning the first.

    Instead, world No. 23 Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin came back to win that game, saved a matchpoint in the decider before winning 9-21, 21-18, 22-20.

    They will meet world No. 5 Fajar Alfian and Rian Ardianto, who beat Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 21-11, 21-7.

    Today’s mixed doubles finals is a showdown between Thailand’s world champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, who recovered from 17-13 down in the decider to beat Malaysians Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai 21-17, 16-21, 22-20, and China’s Olympic champions Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping.

    The women’s doubles final will see Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu of China face in-form Indonesians Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: Watch Loh Kean Yew take on Viktor Axelsen - in a tale of the tape
    Badminton: Sponsors like Eugene Ang are 'unsung heroes' of Singapore Open
     
    Kim W and lodoss like this.
  18. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Singapore Sportstar Spotlight: Badminton's Dynamic Duo
    Singapore Sportstar Spotlight: Badminton's Dynamic Duo (msn.com)

    Ng Kai - 11h ago

    upload_2022-7-19_11-29-25.png
    Power couple: National shuttlers Terry Hee (left) and Tan Wei Han are not just teammates on the court, but teammates for life as well. |
    [​IMG]
    Power couple: National shuttlers Terry Hee (left) and Tan Wei Han are not just teammates on the court, but teammates for life as well.
    Photos: Eric Koh/Singapore Badminton Association (left) and Instagram/@wastedsurrender

    What is a game that two can play, and both can win? For many, it's love. For 27-year-old Terry Hee and 29-year-old Tan Wei Han, it's love and badminton.

    Since the start of their individual professional badminton careers, the mixed doubles pair - once ranked world No. 15 in 2017 - have come out on top in multiple competitions together by always having each other's backs on the court.

    And that on-court chemistry led to the ultimate smash: they tied the knot in 2021, cementing their partnership and relationship.

    Character bio: Terry has been playing professionally since 2014, after going through the youth system at the Singapore Sports School's (SSS) badminton academy. He took a hiatus during national service from 2019 to 2021.

    Most recently, at the Singapore Badminton Open, Terry and partner Loh Kean Hean (yes, elder brother of super shuttler Loh Kean Yew) made their way into the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles, after beating Junaidi Arif and Muhammad Haikal from Malaysia in a 21-9, 21-17 win.

    On the other hand, Wei Han (who also attended SSS) began her professional career in 2011. Despite multiple injuries and setbacks, she's come back stronger each time.

    The couple has been playing together as a mixed doubles team since the start of their professional careers, clinching the top spot in various Badminton World Federation (BWF) International Challenges.

    Achievement unlocked: The duo got hitched in October 2021, and in that same month, bagged their first gold as a married couple by winning the Czech Open. This win was all the more significant for them as their ranking had dropped to No. 788 due to Terry's hiatus during NS, Wei Han's injury, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

    They would go on to win their first BWF World Tour Super 500 title at the 2022 India Open, and a third title at the BWF World Tour Super 100 event in France for the Orleans Masters. ICYDK, that's three international titles in six months!

    And as of May 2022, they've climbed to a world ranking of No. 44. Sibei awesome.


    View this post on Instagram

    Level up: Come 28 July, Terry and para-powerlifter Nur Aini binte Mohamad Yasli will be Team Singapore's flagbearers at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Can you spot the pair in the IG video above?

    Without a doubt, our Little Red Dot's dynamic duo continues to train hard, and aim to get back to the below-20 rankings. They've also set their sights on Paris 2024, where they're hoping to net more medals. Gambatte!

    For the latest updates on Wonderwall.sg, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Telegram. If you have a story idea for us, email us at hello@wonderwall.sg.
     
  19. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Emotional Ginting ends slump to win Singapore Badminton Open
    Emotional Ginting ends slump to win Singapore Badminton Open - Daily Times

    Agencies

    JULY 18, 2022

    SINGAPORE: Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting ended his two-year title drought by beating Japan’s KodaiNaraoka 23-21, 21-17 in the men’s singles final to win the Singapore Badminton Open on Sunday.

    After taking down world champion Loh Kean Yew in the semi-final, Ginting, the world number six, continued to display the same attacking style to end the giant-slaying run of Naraoka. The world number 43’s passage to the final saw him stun world number eight Jonathan Christie, India’s H.S. Prannoy and China’s Zhao Jun Peng, who were all ranked higher than him.

    Going head-to-head for the first time, it was Ginting who drew first blood in the initial game with his swift movements and attacks.Naraoka came out strongly in the second game by taking the lead on five occasions. But Ginting’s ferocious attacks and deceptive net play saw him pull ahead at 17-17 to eventually win the second game 21-17.

    The women’s singles final saw world number seven Pusaria V. Sindhu triumph over China’s Wang Zhi Yi. Sindhu defeated Wang 21-9, 11-21, 21-15 for her third win this year, made even more special with her father watching from the stands.

    Thailand’s DechapolPuavaranukroh and SapsireeTaerattanachai retained their mixed doubles title after they beat China’s Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping in straight games 21-12, 21-17.

    Indonesia, meanwhile, won both the doubles competition with ApriyaniRahayu and SitiFadia Silva Ramadhanti clinching the women’s doubles while Daniel Marthin and Leo RollyCarnando claimed the men’s doubles title.
     
  20. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2002
    Messages:
    17,757
    Likes Received:
    1,078
    Occupation:
    Semi-Retired
    Location:
    Singapore Also Can
    Commonwealth Games: Badminton couple Hee and Tan a smash hit on and off court
    Commonwealth Games: Badminton couple Hee and Tan a smash hit on and off court | The Straits Times

    Fast, strong, and focused, the 67 Singaporeans in nine sports competing at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham are an uncommon breed. The Straits Times looks at six athletes who are unique in their own ways, be it in their choice of professions, personal lives or their sporting journeys. Today, we feature married couple Terry Hee and Jessica Tan, who are also a mixed doubles pair in badminton.
    SPH Brightcove Video

    They may belong to a rare breed of national athletes, but one thing badminton players Terry Hee and Jessica Tan have in common with many Singaporeans is that they love their karaoke.
    [​IMG]

    David Lee

    PUBLISHED
    JUL 23, 2022, 4:40 PM SGT

    SINGAPORE - Like his trademark sharp returns as one half of Singapore badminton's golden couple, Terry Hee has a similarly barb-laden response to what advice he would give to other sporting couples who want to compete together.

    "Don't (do it)," the 26-year-old deadpans, before he and his wife and mixed doubles partner Jessica Tan burst into laughter.

    Finishing off his thoughts, Tan, 28, adds: "Competing together shouldn't come at the expense of the relationship."

    The duo know what they are talking about, for theirs is an uncommon union that has withstood the test of time on and off the court.

    The pair first met when Singapore-born Hee enrolled in the Singapore Sports School on a scholarship at 13. Tan was 15 and it was not until a year later that sparks flew. Two rejections and three years later, they officially got together.

    "We were playing singles matches against each other, and he always cheats my points," says Tan, whose older sisters Wei Wun and Wei Qi also used to be part of the national set-up.

    Hee retorts: "That is what she likes to believe. I usually win 21-10, so I can even give her five points and still win."

    Hee half-jokes that he liked the challenge of wooing an older girl, while Tan was eventually convinced he was serious after two years of courtship.

    Off the court, as both made the transition from puppy love to an official item, and from singles to doubles on it, the national selectors were initially apprehensive about making them a mixed doubles duo.

    But with Hee's former partner Fu Mingtian retiring in 2014 and Tan not making much headway in various pairings, the couple partnered for the first time at the 2014 Singapore International and went all the way to win their first international title.

    Eight years on, neither the affectionate knee slaps nor the heated arguments have ceased.

    Hee says: "In 2014, there was the novelty of playing together for the first time and no pressure like there is now. It can be difficult competing as a couple because there are things you cannot say because you don't want to hurt the other person's feelings.

    "And sometimes, it is just that when someone close to you criticises you or gives you a suggestion, it is harder to accept than when a third party tells you."

    Tan, the thoughtful perfectionist, has a feathered comeback. "I still feel it is rare and special that we can travel and compete together as one entity, and our understanding is there," she says. "He just needs one look and he knows if I'm confident or nervous and does his best to complement and motivate me.

    MORE ON THIS TOPIC
    Badminton: What it's like to win and lose with your sister as your doubles partner
    Commonwealth Games: Shuttler Terry Hee and powerlifter Nur Aini Yasli named Singapore's flagbearers

    "Yes, there are too many times when we argue not just on the court but take it back home. But we try to talk it out on the day itself and move on because ultimately, we recognise we have a common goal, which is to win together."

    Their potential is evident in how they rose to world No. 15 in 2017. But Hee's National Service commitments and Tan's shoulder and knee surgeries put their partnership on hold as their rankings slipped to 808th.

    Incredibly, after they got married last October, they won the lower-tier Czech Open just three weeks later before picking up their biggest title - the Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 500 India Open - in January and the Super 100 Orleans Masters in April for their seventh title as a pair.

    At the first round of the Super 1000 Indonesia Open in June, they held three match points against China's Olympic champions Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping before losing 13-21, 21-19, 26-24.

    Hee, who claims he is the boss on the court but lets Tan run their household, says: "I really admire how my wife has not just come back from her injuries, but become even stronger than before and we are winning bigger tournaments.

    "I feel it's the hunger we have that comes from being out of the game. It is quite hard for an athlete to keep training and not compete, so when we get the chance to compete again, we are very hungry."

    Tan adds: "When the disruption stopped, we were really on fire, and wanted to prove a point. There are many who say that we may not have a long pathway at our age. We accept all the scepticism and criticism, and turn it into something positive... we hope to prove them wrong many more times."

    Their short-term goal is to win a medal at the July 28-Aug 8 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and in the future they want to crack the top 10 and qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

    For now, Tan wants to enjoy her second Commonwealth Games outing with her teammates. The team is close knit but her relationship with her mixed doubles and life partner is dearer, because "there is no one else than Terry I would rather do this with".

    To which the mischievous Hee replies: "Because you know I'm the best."

    Team Singapore's shuttlers at the Commonwealth Games:
    • Loh Kean Yew (men's singles, mixed team)
    • Jason Teh (men's singles, mixed team)
    • Yeo Jia Min (women's singles, mixed team)
    • Insyirah Khan (women's singles, mixed team)
    • Terry Hee (men's doubles, mixed doubles, mixed team)
    • Loh Kean Hean (men's doubles, mixed team)
    • Jin Yujia (women's doubles, mixed doubles mixed team)
    • Crystal Wong (women's doubles, mixed team)
    • Andy Kwek (mixed doubles, mixed team)
    • Jessica Tan (mixed doubles, mixed team)
     
    #1920 Loh, Jul 23, 2022
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2022
    lodoss likes this.

Share This Page