Acquainted with adversity, Singapore's Loh Kean Yew gears up for second Olympics

SINGAPORE: Playing in front of an empty arena at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics three years ago, Loh Kean Yew had nothing to lose.

Ranked 42nd in the world, little was expected from the Singaporean badminton player in his debut Games campaign. 

But the unseeded Loh gave Indonesian star Jonatan Christie a run for his money and narrowly missed out on progressing to the next round.

“It’s better to surprise people at the Olympics, which was what I was trying to do,” Loh told CNA after a training session on Wednesday (May 1).

Fast forward just three years and the Singaporean, now world No 12, no longer has the element of surprise. But in its place is another weapon in the arsenal: Experience.

“I feel myself growing a lot throughout these few years,” Loh said. “It’s been a journey that not everyone has got to enjoy, so it’s been fun.”

COPING WITH INJURY

It will be a busy few months for Loh, even though he has already booked his spot at the Paris Olympics from July to August this year.

The Singaporean finished twelfth in the “Race to Paris” rankings for the top 16 singles players to secure spots for their countries at the Games. 

Now the goal is to propel himself up the world rankings to obtain a favourable seeding for the Olympics.

To do so, the plan is to compete in a number of upcoming tournaments including the Thailand Open, Malaysia Masters, Singapore Open and Indonesia Open.

“I want to go as far as possible in these tournaments to get (a) better ranking (for Paris)," said Loh.

"Just go out there and chiong (go all out) and try to do my best. Ultimately Paris is still the main goal."

But the 26-year-old is also coping with a long-term right shoulder injury which has worsened in the last one to two months, he revealed.

“Recently it has flared up quite a lot so there was some swelling,” he said. “I’m doing my physiotherapy regularly and also doing my rehab stuff to strengthen the muscle so that … it can recover or at least be better.”

While an issue over the years, Loh has preferred to keep mum as he doesn't want it to be an “excuse”.

There are concerns over the impact on future performances but Loh has long accepted such injuries as part of being an elite badminton athlete.

Take his word for it. After all, this was the man who was famously wheelchair-bound with an ankle injury just 24 hours before his world championship win in 2021.

For now, national men’s singles head coach Kelvin Ho has adjusted Loh’s training to dial down the intensity but ensure he stays sharp.

This means strength and conditioning work at the gym as well as drills to improve footwork and court coverage, while taking care to not over-tax the shoulder.

WORLD TITLE NOT A "CURSE"

In a sport like badminton, the margins can be incredibly fine. As recent results show, any men’s singles player in the world’s top 30, on their day, can upset the top seeds.

Since the start of the year, only two players - China’s world No 2 Shi Yu Qi and Denmark’s world No 4 Anders Antonsen - have won more than one Badminton World Federation (BWF) tournament.

“We don’t always win,” said Loh. “Not every day is a smooth day for everyone; it's about how we manage it.”

While Loh has won a title this year, there were also first-round exits in the Swiss Masters, Malaysia Open and the Badminton Asia Championships.

“If you leave the house at the same time every day, it doesn’t mean that you’ll get to the office at the same time …The traffic lights are different every day, the cars are different every day, the traffic is different every day,” he said.

“Similarly, we play (badminton) every day, we work hard every day, but working hard doesn't mean you'll always do better … It is not as easy as it seems.”

Loh can attest to this first-hand. 

After his world title, there was an 883-day wait for his next trophy. As time dragged on, it was evident that the weight of expectations was the price to pay for success. 

“I did think of it before, that (maybe) I won that title too early … But then again, it's better earlier than never,” Loh said. 

“It was a good opportunity and ... I seized the opportunity. I wouldn't say winning was a curse because I would have needed to handle it sooner or later."

He continues to trust in the process and his support system, which is his head coach Ho is integral to. 

"A big part of who I am today is because of him," Loh added. 

For Paris, the goal is to add different dimensions to his game and make him a more complete player, said Ho.

"We'll need him to keep consistent on his attacking gameplay. At the same time, we will need to work on defensive drills (and) his court coverage, so that whenever he plays opponents that are difficult to play with ... he is able and ready to defend," the coach added.

DEALING WITH PRESSURE

When it comes to a major tournament like the Olympics, it's "anyone’s game", said Loh.

At the last edition of the Games, it was Guatemalan badminton player Kevin Cordon who upset the apple cart. 

Cordon beat Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long in the group stages before battling his way to the semi-finals. The experienced 37-year-old eventually finished fourth. 

“There are a lot of upsets during big tournaments, because the more you want it, the harder (it might) get to perform.

"So it's about how each and every player deals with their own pressure and also who can perform the best.”

Honing one’s mental game is key and Loh has worked with a sports psychologist over the years. 

“Everybody knows it (the mental part) is the toughest part of (an) athlete's life,” he said.

“In the last two or three years, there have been a lot of constant challenges (whether) psychologically, mentally or emotionally.”

Now no longer the plucky underdog, the Singaporean will head to Paris as a battle-hardened contender with a long-stated goal of clinching an Olympic medal.

Others may have studied his game, but Loh hasn't stood still and has figured out some things too. He has learnt, he has grown and the hope is that he is ready.