'I was hoping to put on a better show': Disappointment but not despair for Loh Kean Yew after Olympics exit

PARIS: His hand was taped, his heart was hurting, but there was still a cheeriness to Loh Kean Yew's demeanour as he spoke to reporters on Friday (Aug 2) after being eliminated from the Olympics.

It wasn't because he was pleased with his performance, nor was it because he was happy with the result. Rather, it was simply because this is who he is.

“I lost to a worthy opponent, I lost to my good friend, and I also gave my all," he said. "There's no use crying over split milk, I can only just try again.”

Loh's run at the Paris Olympics ended on Friday, after he was beaten by reigning men’s singles champion Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals.

At the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, world number 2 Axelsen beat world number 12 Loh 21-9, 21-17.

“I didn't perform up to the standard. I gave my all, I tried my best and I put everything on the court, but it wasn't enough,” said Loh.

“Viktor played very well and he was restricting me (on) a lot of stuff and it wasn't easy to break through his defence."

SCRAPPED KNUCKLES, DASHED HOPES

While Axelsen was undoubtedly in imperious form and raced to an early lead, an injury Loh picked up early in the game undoubtedly had a bearing on his result.

He scraped his right hand diving for a return and it would have to be taped up to stem the bleeding.

“I was actually quite calm. Just that after a few points, he gained a little bit of confidence and I lost the momentum a bit,” said Loh.

“And then there was this taping situation, and it just got harder to play. It affected quite a little bit in the first set, because I wasn't used to it.”

The thick bandage would affect Loh’s grip and the first game in particular. “The feel is very different, I couldn't grip my racquet properly,” he added.

Things were much tighter in the second, with things level at 14-14, before a series of mistakes from Loh would hand the initiative to the Dane.

“I was just focusing on each point and I think I was a bit rushed. And I wasn't as patient as before probably,” the Singaporean said.

Asked if he was satisfied with his showing at the Olympics, Loh said "yes but no".

"I’m happy with how far I reached (in this tournament), but ... it’s also quite heart-breaking, it’s quite sad that I didn’t go further than this,” said the Singaporean.

“Especially in the first game today, I couldn’t perform very well. I was hoping to put on a better show.”

Loh had become the first Singaporean to reach the quarter-finals at the Olympics in two decades. Men's singles player Ronald Susilo had previously reached the quarter-finals of the competition in 2004 before being eliminated.

And while the pain of defeat may linger for Loh, his run at the Games is more than enough reason to smile.

The former world champion made his Games debut at the last edition of the Olympics in Tokyo where he was eliminated in the group stage.

"At the previously Olympics when I lost I was very, very sad," he called. "That was much sadder. This time around, I had a good run and I'm quite okay."

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