Badminton doesn’t attract as much attention as, for example, football. However, this sport also has many fans who want to know more about their favorite athletes. Today, we will tell you about an outstanding player who has made his country famous in the international arena. So, meet Loh Kean Yew.
Early Life and Background
The future star was born on June 26, 1997, in Penang, Malaysia. His love for badminton manifested itself very early. At the age of 4, he enjoyed playing with his brothers and friends near his home. The older brother was a role model. He was actively involved in badminton. Loh Kean Yew dreamed of following in his footsteps. But he did not even imagine that very soon he would surpass his brother in all respects.
At the age of 7, his love for the sport encountered its first obstacle. The athlete himself says that he was discouraged by the comments of his elders. Then he decided that he would not succeed in badminton.
Perhaps the career of the great badminton player would have ended like that, but admission to a sports school changed everything. At the age of 9, he began training hard again, and in just six months, he was included in the Penang state team. Even at that time, the future star showed excellent results. He easily won the Malaysian Junior Grand Prix in 2009.
All this became possible because of the Penang Badminton Association. This organization supported the young athlete and financed his education. It was this training at an early age that laid the foundation for a great career in the future.
Career Beginnings and Early Achievements
Success in Malaysia gave the athlete a chance. In 2010, Loh Kean Yew moved to Singapore. He received a scholarship from his sports school. It was a great opportunity to continue training at a new level.
However, after finishing school, the future champion was not sure about his sports career. So, he went to college to master the profession of a sports manager. Fortunately, he did not give up training. And in 2015, he achieved his first significant success. That year, he took third place at the SEA Games. At these games, he represented Singapore because that year he received citizenship.
Military service did not stop him from conquering the sports Olympus. In 2017, he won national competitions in Singapore and Malaysia. Two years later, he made people talk about him after winning a competition in Thailand. After that, no one could deny that Loh Kean Yew had colossal potential and that new victories lay ahead.
Breakthrough Moment
If you are a badminton fan, you will definitely remember this competition. Everyone who placed the right badminton bet made a great profit that day. We are talking about the BWF World Championships in Spain. Loh Kean Yew did not just do well in this competition. It was a real breakthrough. No one seriously thought that a young player from Singapore would be able to crush everyone.
This victory was significant not only for the athlete himself but also for the entire country. This is the first time in history that a Singaporean citizen has become a world champion in badminton. Loh Kean Yew was able to do this at the age of 24.
After that, the whole world started talking about the talented badminton player. Popularity fell upon him literally in one day. Sports companies started contacting him and offering advertising contracts. This significantly improved the financial situation of the athlete. However, he did not become less serious about badminton, and continued to train hard.
Playing Style and Strengths
First of all, it is worth noting the excellent build and physical characteristics of Loh Kean Yew. With a height of 175 cm, he maintains a weight of about 68 kg. This allows him to control his speed while maintaining sufficient punching power. In the game, he is characterized by lightning-fast and powerful attacks that are very difficult to parry. In speed, he significantly surpasses many famous players.
At the same time, nature has endowed him with excellent reflexes. He can parry even the most difficult blows. However, Loh Kean Yew’s opponents rarely have the opportunity to deliver them. The Singaporean athlete immediately takes an aggressive attacking position, literally crushing the resistance of opponents.
Major Career Highlights and Achievements
| Date | Event | Result |
| 2015 | SEA Games | 3rd place, Team 3rd place, Single |
| 2017 | SEA Games | 3rd place, Team |
| 2019 | SEA Games | 3rd place, Team 2nd place, Single |
| 2021 | World Championships | 1st place, Single |
| 2021 | SEA Games | 3rd place, Team 2nd place, Single |
| 2022 | Asia Team Championships | 3rd place, Team |
| 2022 | Badminton Asia Championships | Entered the top 8 |
| 2022 | Commonwealth Games | 3rd place, Team |
| 2023 | SEA Games | 3rd place, Team |
| 2024 | Madrid Spain Masters | 1st place, Single |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Reached the quarter-finals |
At first glance, the list of achievements may not seem that impressive. However, it should be taken into account that players from Singapore have not previously shown such great results. Thanks to Loh Kean Yew, in 2022, the Singapore team won its first medal at the Asia Team Championships.
Recent Performances and Rankings
After winning the world title, Loh Kean Yew’s career was not easy. For three years, he showed good results but did not win any significant tournaments. In May 2024, he suffered another setback at the Malaysia Masters 2024. After losing to Chinese player Wang Tzu-wei, he was eliminated from the tournament.
However, at the 2024 Spain Masters, his luck finally smiled upon him, ending his three-year title drought on the HSBC BWF World Tour. Spain may be the lucky destination for the 2023 Asian Championships silver medalist. With this victory, Loh Kean Yew showed that he was still in the game. He is now the 11th in the world, which is a great result.
Challenges and Overcoming Adversity
Surprisingly, the main difficulty in the badminton player’s career was his victory at the world championship. Despite his worldwide fame and undoubtedly high level of play, Loh Kean Yew also faced negative comments. Doubts were periodically heard about the merit of the title. For example, some ill-wishers claimed that the championship title was only possible due to the absence of key Chinese and Indonesian players at the championship.
As a result, the badminton player was under enormous pressure. The burden of responsibility was increased by his unique status as the first world champion from Singapore. In the following years, Loh Kean Yew trained twice as hard. He could not let his fans down and he needed to prove his status. Thanks to such dedication, he was able to achieve remarkable results.
Contribution to Singaporean Badminton
The path of a pioneer is difficult but very significant. Loh Kean Yew’s success has had a huge impact on Singapore sports. It is especially noticeable in badminton. The young athletes understood with the help of his example that anything is possible if you train hard. It is obvious that Loh Kean Yew is now an idol and role model for a new generation.
The second aspect of the badminton player’s success was the protection of the country’s prestige in the international arena. Now Singapore is not written off in international competitions. Players from this country are being looked at with interest.
Future Goals and Prospects
Loh Kean Yew’s future plans are determined by the extremely high bar of his previous achievements. As the athlete himself says: “I have no right to return to the status of an underdog.” Now he plans to confirm his title as a world champion, as well as bring his country an Olympic medal. This did not happen this year, but Loh does not intend to give up. And given his incredible work ethic and dedication to badminton, he will definitely be able to achieve excellent results. Now, the athlete sets ambitious goals to win titles at all significant championships and bring even more fame to his country.
Conclusion
Loh Kean Yew is a great example of a combination of natural abilities and incredible persistence. From early childhood, he trained hard, gradually gaining recognition. Today, he has already achieved a lot. However, the athlete does not plan to stop there. He has ambitious goals and plans.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Loh Kean Yew’s biggest achievement?
Loh Kean Yew’s greatest achievement is winning the World Championship in 2021.
How did Loh Kean Yew start his badminton career?
The elder brother of the future star played badminton. Of course, this game was a favorite in their family. At the age of 4, Loh Kean Yew began playing. Further training at the Malaysian Sports School allowed him to develop his natural talent.
What is Loh Kean Yew’s current world ranking?
Loh Kean Yew is currently ranked 11th in the world badminton rankings, which is very high for a Singaporean player.
