SINGAPORE - National shuttler Loh Kean Yew set up a date with Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in the final of the Indonesia Open after a solid 21-14, 21-7 win over Denmark's Rasmus Gemke in the semi-finals on Saturday (Nov 27) evening.
Loh, the 24-year-old world No. 26, will play world No. 2 Axelsen at the Bali International Convention Centre on Sunday.
The Dane had beaten Indonesia's Jonatan Christie 21-19, 21-15 in the other semi-final of the US$850,000 (S$1.16 million) Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 1000 event played earlier.
Loh said he was pleased with his performance against world No. 13 Gemke, but added he had already put the victory behind him and was firmly focused on Axelsen.
"I've lost to Viktor a couple of times since 2019 already so tomorrow I'll head onto the court and try my very best and hope that I can perform well," he said.
If he wins the Indonesia Open, Loh will also earn a spot in the year-end BWF World Tour Finals, which would be a first for a Singaporean male player.
His fantastic run of form has roused Singaporean sports fans on social media.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said in a Facebook post: "No more words….. Except….. Go Kean Yew! We are all behind you!"
Netizens have also thrown their weight behind Loh, as evidenced by comments on The Straits Times' Facebook post of his win over Gemke.
"All the best Kean Yew. Singaporeans will be cheering for you," said Facebook user Max Tan.
Another user, Robert Foo, said: "He was in perfect shape (and) it was nice to watch his gentle smile after his victory. We wish him all the best against Viktor tomorrow."
There is added intrigue to Sunday's final as Loh had trained with Axelsen in Dubai for a month in August and September, a stint which has helped the Singaporean kick on to a fine run of form.
Over the past month, he has also beaten a string of top players, most notably world No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan in an earlier round in Bali, as well as Chinese Taipei's world No. 4 Chou Tien-chen, Malaysia's All England champion Lee Zii Jia (seventh), Taiwanese Wang Tzu-wei (11th), and India's Lakshya Sen (19th).
Loh and Axelsen had met as recently as October, when the Singaporean lost 21-19, 21-14 in the first round of the Denmark Open in Odense in 35 minutes.
National singles coach Kelvin Ho was pleased with Loh's performance against Gemke, saying: "He showed more variation and was more complete on court, which aided him in his victory."
The key against Axelsen, he added, will be to repeat yesterday's approach, which was to aim to take the initiative while also maintaining a patient game.
In the women's singles, second-seeded Thai Ratchanok Intanon outlasted India's P. V. Sindhu 15-21, 21-9, 21-14 and will play An Se-young in the final. The South Korean fourth seed beat Thai Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-19, 21-19.
