Badminton: Singapore's Loh Kean Yew begins Olympics with straightforward win against Czech opponent

PARIS: Up against a new opponent and an unfamiliar drift, it took a bit of time for world number 13 Loh Kean Yew to get going in his opening fixture at the Paris Olympics.

But it was business as usual once he did as the Singaporean dispatched Czech Republic's Jan Louda 21-13, 21-10 on Sunday (Jul 28).

At the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, the Singaporean trailed in the early exchanges and went into the interval down 9-11 against the world number 63. However, he would find his groove and take the game.

"I've never played him before so definitely needed to take some time to get used to it," he told reporters.

"The wind was a bit different from what we had (experienced) during the many sessions we had so that was a bit surprising. I needed to adapt to it."

The former world champion was pegged back again in the second but went into the break with a 11-8 lead. Loh never looked back and would see things off comfortably.

"He's a good player and he's not one that I would underestimate," added Loh.

A win in Loh's next game against El Salvador's Uriel Canjura on Wednesday will ensure that the Singaporean progresses to the next round of the competition.

"I need to prepare myself to the fullest, I'm not here to underestimate anyone and I think he's a very good player as well," added Loh.

Also one game from making the next round is top women's badminton player Yeo Jia Min, who cruised to a straightforward 22-minute win over Iran-born Dorsa Yavarivafa of the Refugee Olympic team.

Yeo will face Kate Foo Kune of Mauritius on Tuesday and a win will see her move on to the round of 16.

Loh and Yeo, who both made their Games debuts at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, have never progressed past the group stages at the Olympics.

However, the husband-wife