Singapore—Badminton star Loh Kean Yew is the latest darling of Singapore sports, but The New Straits Times (NST) made sure to point out that his roots in Penang.
Somewhat predictably, NST headlined its Nov 9 report: “Penang-born player males Singapore proud”.
“Many” Malaysian-born badminton players end up competing for Singapore, said NST. Given the fierce competitiveness between the two countries, this really has to hurt.
Loh made history with his men’s singles title win at the Hylo Open 2021 in Saarbrucken, Germany, on Sunday (Nov 7). He beat Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, ranked #8 in the world compared with Loh who was then a relatively owly #39. Loh was leading when Lee had to retire because of injury.
In the same tournament, Loh had also beaten players ranked #35 and #13, with Taiwan’s Chou Tian-chen, the world #4 as as his biggest scalp.
Congratulations came pouring in toward the 24-year-old Loh, who defeated reigning All-England champion Lee Zii Jia and gained his second professional title.
It was also his first win at the Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 500 level, the fourth tier on the professional badminton circuit. Loh had also beaten Lee in the first round of the French Open weeks earlier, in October
NST pointed out that the Hylo Open finals could have been dominated by Malaysia, as Lee Zii Jia is from Alor Setar, Kedah, Lee won the All-England Open Badminton Championships 2021 in March. This is the world’s oldest badminton tournament.
“Singaporeans are over the moon with the success of their trailblazing men’s singles ace, but not many are aware that Kean Yew could have very well represented Malaysia.
This is because he was born in Penang, and is a product of the Penang BA,” NST added.
Loh, who also won the Dutch Open in October, arrived in Singapore in 2010 with a scholarship to the Singapore Sports School.
His older brother, Kean Hean, had come to Singapore the year before he did and is also a badminton player—a doubles specialist who represents the country in tournaments.
The brothers later became Singapore citizens, with Mr Loh quoted as saying, “I am honoured to wear the Singapore flag on my chest.”
Back in 2017, Loh Kean Yew told the Today newspaper after a match at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, that Singapore had “given me all the support I needed simce I continued by studies here when I was 13”.
NST also noted that Loh Kean Hean’s doubles partner at the Dutch Open, Terry Hee, also Penang born. The two won this year’s Czech Open. Both are in Singapore’s national team.
Yeo Jia Min, who was runner up in the women’s singles at the Hylo Open, also has Malaysian roots. Her parents were were born there but moved to Singapore.
The NST report quotes an unnamed source said to be close to the Badminton Association of Malaysia as saying that having Malaysian-born players endiup competing for Singapore “is not something new”.
“Back then, the SBA would come and join our tournaments during the holidays. This was when they did their scouting.
It’s not a wrong practice but they would try to entice the parents first.
Many of our players like Soniia Cheah and her older sister Lydia were also approached in the past.
In fact, one of our biggest moves was when we intervened to stop Goh Jin Wei from making the move to Singapore,” the source is quoted as saying.
Unfortunately, this former SEA Games champion who had represented Malaysia since she was 14, announced in September that she was retiring early for health reasons. She’s just 21./TISG
Read also: Heng Swee Keat posts video of ‘friendly’ badminton game with champion Loh Kean Yew
Heng Swee Keat posts video of ‘friendly’ badminton game with world champion Loh Kean Yew