Kean Yew making waves after victory over Lin Dan

SINGAPORE’S Loh Kean Yew’s sensational victory over two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan that bagged him the Thailand Masters title has sent the world of badminton into a frenzy.

Back in the Lion City, the 21-year-old was hailed as national sporting hero for winning the country’s first ever World Tour title while in China, Kean Yew earned admiration from the Chinese media for slaying five of their players en route to the victory on Sunday.

Prior to taking on Lin Dan in the final, Kean Yew had also beaten Chinese second echelon of players comprising Sun Feixiang, Liu Haichao, Zhou Zeqi and Zhao Jun Peng in the first four hurdles.

And it was no exception in Malaysia, considering Kean Yew was born in Penang.

Penangites must be proud to learn now that Kean Yew has now become the third shuttler from the state to have beaten fivetime world champion, nicknamed Super Dan.

The other two Penangites who have done so are Lee Chong Wei, who beat Lin Dan on 12 occasions and Ong Ewe Hock, twice in 2001 and 2002.

Kean Yew was previously a trainee with the Penang Badminton Association (PBA) until he was 12.

His best achievement in the junior scene was winning the 2009 National Junior Grand Prix Finals, beating Lee Zii Jia in the Under-12 final.

In 2010, he was offered a place in the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) but opted to take up a scholarship offer by Singapore Schools Sports Council to study and play badminton there. His brother Kean Yean had also moved there.

The Loh brothers eventually took up citizenship and represented Singapore.

National No. 1 women’s singles Goh Jin Wei had previously admitted that she was once tempted to accept the offer but eventually turned it down.

It was not the first time Kean Yew has rattled the Chinese badminton camp.

At the 2016 Asian Team Championships in India, Singapore nearly claimed a famous win over China in a group stage match.

Kean Yew picked up a point by beating then world No. 11 Wang Zhengming in the second singles but could not help Singapore from going down 2-3.

Prior to winning the Thailand Masters for his biggest prize to date, Kean Yew had won two bronze in the men’s singles and men’s team at the Singapore SEA Games in 2015.

He’s also a winner of four satellite tournaments – Singapore International (2014 and 2017), Malaysian International (2017) and Mongolia International (2018).

My targets aren’t going to change just because I won a tournament,” Kean Yew told Singapore’s daily The Independent.

“I do feel happy but to be consistent is more important.”

He also hoped this achievement will be a stepping stone in his bid to become an Olympic champion.

“Since young, the Olympic gold has been my dream and it hasn’t changed yet,” he said.

Kean Yew is expected to get only better as he’s in good hands of renowned Indonesian coach Mulyo Handoyo, who was instrumental for guiding Taufik Hidayat to the men’s singles gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Doubles player Terry Hee and women’s singles Yeoh Jia Min are also born in Malaysia but currently playing for Singapore national team.