Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew’s bid for an Asian title is off to a good start after taking care of Kanthapon Wangcharoen of Thailand, 21-16, 15-21, 21-17, in the Round of 32 of the men’s singles event of the Badminton Asia Championships 2022, Wednesday at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Muntinlupa City.
Loh, who went against the odds to take Singapore’s first world title in December of last year, needed to fend off his errors in the third set to eventually take one over a familiar foe in Wangcharoen.
“Last year, at the end of the year I played very well. But nobody is fixed all the time, so I’m definitely trying my best to reach a different status along with expectations and pressure. So yeah, I need to perform the best I can,” said the Malaysia-born Singaporean on what he hopes to continue doing this year.
Loh will next face Koki Watanabe, who took down Kazakhstan’s Dmitriy Panarin in straight sets, 21-18, 21-14.
Also advancing into the second round is Vietnam’s Tien Minh Nguyen after his win over Thailand’s Khosit Phetpradab, 21-19, 21-17. He will go up against Kanta Tsuneyama, who won over China’s Lei Lan Xi, 11-21, 21-14, 21-17.
In the women’s singles, former world number 1 Saina Nehwal of India booked her place in the last 16 with a close 21-15, 17-21, 21-13 win over South Korea’s Sim Yujin.
Malaysia’s Selvaduray Kisona likewise moved into the second round after a decisive win over Hong Kong’s Yeung Sum Yee, 21-10, 22-20.
Seventh-seeds Pearly Tan and Muralitharan Thinaah, also of Malaysia, paced the afternoon’s winners in women’s doubles. They are joined in the next phase by Hong Kong’s Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam and Thailand’s Chasinee Korepap and Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat.
More matches in the men’s and women’s singles, and women’s doubles are currently ongoing as of this publishing.
The tournament is made possible by SMART, MVP Sports Foundation, Li-Ning, Cignal, TV5, One Sports, Robinson’s Land, Premium Megastructure Inc., Philippine Badminton Association, Badminton Asia, the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, and Muntinlupa Mayor Fresnedi and the City of Muntinlupa.
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