Loh Kean Yew Falls Short in SEA Games quarterfinals, Ending Singapore’s Singles Badminton Hopes
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Singapore’s pursuit of a coveted badminton singles medal at the 2025 SEA Games came to a disappointing end on December 12th, as world No. 10 Loh Kean Yew was defeated by Indonesia’s Zaki Ubaidillah in the quarterfinal round. The loss caps a challenging tournament for the Singaporean contingent, with all singles players eliminated from medal contention.
Upset Loss for Top Seed Loh
Loh, the top seed in the men’s singles event following the decision of Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn to focus solely on the team competition, had previously secured his place in the last eight with a win over the Philippines’ Jewel Angelo Albo 21-17, 21-19. However, at the Thamasat Rangsit Gymnasium 4 in Thailand, he faced a formidable challenge from world No.48 Zaki.The Indonesian player proved too strong,securing a 21-19 victory in the first game and dominating the second with a score of 21-10,concluding the 46-minute match.
Following the match, Loh expressed his disappointment, stating, “Of course, I’m disappointed. But there’s nothing I can do. It’s a sport-I have to go back and practice.” He acknowledged Zaki’s strong performance, adding, “obviously, as you can tell, he played really well. It was very hard to play against him. I mean, his qualities.” Loh also indicated a need for a break from competition, saying, “For now, I need a break from tournaments. I gave my everything there in the game but, regrettably, it wasn’t enough.”
Pressure and expectations at the SEA Games
Loh emphasized the unique pressures of the SEA Games, noting that the competition carries a different weight than other tournaments.”The Games are ‘very different’ from other tournaments as they are ‘much more notable’,” he explained. “There’s a lot more expectation and pressure. Even for myself, the desire to win is much stronger. I gave everything in the court. I tried every possible way, but there weren’t any good answers.”
Singaporean Players Eliminated Across Disciplines
Loh’s defeat was not an isolated incident. Earlier in the tournament, his compatriot, Jason Teh, the men’s singles third seed, fell to Malaysia’s Justin Hoh 20-22, 15-21 on December 11th. The struggles extended to the women’s singles, where both Singaporean players were also eliminated on the same day. Insyirah Khan, ranked No. 150,lost to Malaysia’s Wong ling Ching 21-16,21-15,while Jaslyn hooi,ranked No. 192, was defeated by K. Letshanaa 21-17, 22-20.
The setbacks continued in doubles play on December 12th. the mixed doubles pair of Terry Hee and Jin Yujia lost to Malaysia’s top seeds, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, 21-12, 21-14.The men’s doubles duo of Wesley Koh and Junsuke kubo also suffered a defeat, falling to Indonesia’s Leo Carnando and Bagas Maulana 21-17, 21-14.
Despite the disappointing results in the individual events, Singapore’s teams had previously secured bronze medals in both the women’s and men’s team competitions, offering a small measure of success during the Games. the overall performance underscores the growing competitiveness of badminton in the region and the challenges facing Singapore in its quest for individual glory.
