Loh Kean Yew off to winning start at BWF World Tour Finals

Singapore’s top shuttler is off to a winning debut at the HSBC Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals as he took just over 40 minutes to see off the challenge from world number three Chou Tien-chen from Chinese Taipei 21-15, 21-17 in Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday.

Loh will next meet Indonesia’s world No. 5 Jonatan Christie on Thursday afternoon before taking on Anthony Sinisuka Ginting who is ranked seventh in the world in his final Group B match the following day.

“It’s the first day of the tournament, so everyone is trying to adapt to the court as well. But (I am) definitely happy to be on the winning side,” said Loh in an interview with SPOTV after his win.

“Whoever it is, I am preparing myself for my own game. One match at a time, so I will go back and analyse and make my own preparations,” added the 25-year-old on his next opponent.

It will be a tough match next for Loh as he has not tasted a win against the Indonesian player. The duo met earlier this year in the Philippines for the quarter-finals of the Badminton Asia Championship in a closely fought match with Loh eventually losing out 20-22 21-23.

World number one Viktor Axelsen is in Group A alongside India’s HS Prannoy, Kodai Naraoka from Japan and China’s Lu Guangzu. The top two from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The draw for the knockout stage will take place on Friday evening at the conclusion of the final group matches.