SEA Games 2025: More good news for Loh Kean Yew after Singapore badminton teams guaranteed medals
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- Loh Kean Yew's chances for a SEA Games singles gold improved as Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn withdrew to focus on team event and the World Tour Finals.
- Team Singapore secured at least two bronze medals in badminton, with both the men's and women's teams aiming for their first final since 2007.
- Yeo Jia Min's absence from the women's team raises questions but coach Kim Ji-hyun hinted at strategic decisions for younger players' development.
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BANGKOK – On a day when Team Singapore assured themselves of their first medals – at least two bronzes from the men and women’s badminton team events – they are dreaming of something more elusive.
Loh Kean Yew’s hopes of winning Singapore’s first SEA Games badminton men’s singles gold in 42 years received a boost when it was revealed that home favourite Kunlavut Vitidsarn will play in only the men’s team event.
On Dec 7, South-east Asia’s top-ranked player and world No. 3 Kunlavut told The Straits Times he did not have much time to train as he had gone for wisdom tooth surgery just before the Games.
He also has one eye on the US$3 million (S$3.89 million) Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals that will take place in Hangzhou, China from Dec 17 to 21.
The 24-year-old, who leads Loh 8-1 in their head-to-head record and is unbeaten in seven matches against Singapore’s 21st-ranked Jason Teh, said: “I didn’t have time to train and get back to a good physical condition to play so many events.”
“The SEA Games are held at home, so actually I want to play in the men’s singles also, but I know myself, that I won’t be good enough to get a medal,” added Kunlavut, who is also one of Thailand’s two flag bearers at the opening ceremony alongside boxer Janjaem Suwannapheng.
Regardless, in the team event, Kunlavut had enough in his tank to beat 143rd-ranked Hein Htut to help Thailand to a 3-0 win over Myanmar at the Thammasat University to set up a semi-final encounter against Malaysia.
However, his absence in the men’s singles opens up the path for world No. 10 Loh to emulate Singapore’s first SEA Games badminton gold medallist Wong Shoon Keat who won the men’s singles gold in 1983, as he is now the highest-ranked player left in the event ahead of the draw on Dec 10.
Loh made the finals in 2019 and 2022, losing to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia and Kunlavut respectively. In 2023, he featured in only the team event as the individual events clashed with the Sudirman Cup.
Besides Wong’s success, Singapore has won only two other badminton golds in the history of the biennial Games – Fu Mingtian (women’s singles, 2011) and the women’s team (2003).
Loh, 28, told ST: “No matter who is playing, there are still other good players. I’m going to focus on the team event for now and only after that will I prepare for the individual event.”
In the team event, he kicked off his sixth SEA Games campaign by leading Singapore to the semi-finals with a 3-0 win over Laos. They will next take on defending champions Indonesia on Dec 8.
Loh started the ball rolling with a 21-8, 21-11 win over 667th-ranked Xayyalath Souksavat, before Teh breezed past 926th-ranked Phonesack Sokthavy 21-12, 21-15. Joel Koh then sealed at least a joint-bronze medal by beating the unranked Vixunnalath Phichith 21-11, 21-7.
Singapore’s Jason Teh holding his broken racket as he leaves the court.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Teh, who broke his racket in the second game but had six others to rely on, is hoping they can make a first final since 2007 when both the men and women’s teams clinched silver. The 25-year-old said: “Anything can happen in team events and I think it will be 50-50.
“Each of us wants to progress further than we did at the last SEA Games, but thinking about it won’t help. We will focus on doing our part and play to win every point. If we focus on the process, the result will take care of itself.”
His women’s counterparts are also gunning to make history after swatting aside the Philippines 3-0 in the quarter-finals earlier on Dec 7. But top singles player and world No. 18 Yeo Jia Min was conspicuously missing from the line-up.
It was left to world No. 146 Insyirah Khan to open Singapore’s account, beating 175th-ranked Mikaela Joy de Guzman 21-15, 21-18, before world No. 150 Megan Lee conjured a 19-21, 24-22, 21-16 comeback victory against unranked Ysabel Amora. Jaslyn Hooi, ranked 190th, then wrapped things up with a 21-10, 21-14 win over Christel Rei Fuentespina.
Ahead of their semi-final against hosts and defending champions Thailand, Lee, 20, said: “This is a big stepping stone, because it’s my first time playing in the team event in the SEA Games. I think it’s a big confidence booster.
“As a team, we will try to give our best as we are playing against stronger opponents, but we’ll not back down and we’ll try to give our best and give our best shot at trying to fight for every single point.”
However, question marks remain regarding Yeo’s participation.
National singles coach Kim Ji-hyun said: “We needed to get ready to explore our options with the younger ones and to let the next generation get a feel for the major Games. She (Jia Min) is resting now, but we will see (whether she plays tomorrow). This is top secret, so I don’t want to tell.”
The other semi-final pits Malaysia against Indonesia.
