Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew out of Asian Games after loss to Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong

HANGZHOU: The disappointment on Loh Kean Yew’s face was plain to see after his Asian Games debut came to a premature end on Tuesday (Oct 3).

The world number 9 had lost 12-21, 14-21 to Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong in the men’s singles round of 32 at the Binjiang Gymnasium. Ng took 45 minutes to beat former world champion Loh.

"It could be much better," he told reporters in the mixed zone.

"I gave my best out there but it's just very far apart performance wise ... Far apart from what I had hoped to achieve, and for this match, far apart from him."

According to data from the Badminton World Federation, this was world number nine Loh’s fourth career meeting against Ng. The world number 19 has now beaten the Singaporean three times.

Loh, who received a first-round bye in the men’s singles, had also featured in the men’s team event where Singapore lost 3-0 to Japan.

Ng, who has been in good form this season, raced to an early lead. A few of Loh’s thunderous trademark smashes saw him claw his way back to level at 7-7.

But a series of errors from Loh handed the initiative back to Ng, who also beat the Singaporean in the quarter-finals of the Commonwealth Games last year. 

The Malaysian proved more than equal to everything Loh threw at him, and saw out the first game in 20 minutes.

"He's a very patient player, very steady player and of course also very calm," said Loh. "It's not easy to play with him."

Ng continued in the same vein after the break as his patience and calm reading of the game shone through and he took the win.

"(I feeling) a lot (of emotions right now). But it is mostly on the negative side," said Loh. 

Singapore has one remaining representative in the men’s singles – Jason Teh. He will face top seed Anthony Ginting on Wednesday.

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