Loh Kean Yew out of badminton world c’ships after q-final upset by Canada’s Victor Lai

SINGAPORE – Frustrated after missing out on a Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships medal, Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew took to Instagram to vent his exasperation over a controversial umpire call that cost him a point in his shock 22-20, 21-18 loss to Canada’s Victor Lai in their men’s singles quarter-final on Aug 29.

The moment of contention came at the end of a 27-shot rally in the second game. Pouncing on a net shot, world No. 50 Lai’s momentum sent him tumbling into Loh’s half of the court under the net.

While Loh’s return went wide to make it 9-5 to his opponent, the world No. 9 felt he should have been awarded the point as Lai had faulted. The 28-year-old took almost two minutes to remonstrate animatedly with Kiwi umpire Kelvin Tsui, who felt that Lai’s movement “did not actually block him (Loh) from making the shot”.

Loh told The Straits Times: “I would be lying if I said I’m not feeling any anger now, but I’m more frustrated about what happened.

“It’s an obvious distraction when I still have a shot to play and can see that he has encroached into my area of play. I’m sure badminton players should stay on their own side of the court during the point itself.”

Loh was clearly still seething after his 47-minute match, as he uncharacteristically lashed out on social media.

Along with a slow-motion video clip of Lai tumbling onto his side of the court, the 2021 world champion tagged the BWF account and wrote: “I don’t usually post things like this because @bwf.official’s umpire’s call is absolute and they will not change it whether or not they are right or wrong, with or without replay.”

In upper-case words, he emphasised: “But he’s literally sleeping on my side of the court????”

Congratulating his rival, Loh then clarified that he was not taking issue with the result.

He wrote: “Winning and losing is part of the game. A loss is a loss, and Victor did play well today so the credit goes to him. But this isn’t just about winning or losing. It’s about upholding the principle of sports and fair umpiring.”

He then highlighted a statute under BWF’s laws of the game that stated: “It shall be a fault if, in play, a player invades an opponent’s court under the net with racket or person such that an opponent is obstructed or distracted.”

After the incident, he tried to refocus and got as close as 12-13 and 18-19, but could not prevent a stunning upset at the Adidas Arena in Paris after a backhand clear sailed long.

Loh was not at his best, looking haggard as he walked out on court. He had recently recovered from a bacterial infection that left him bedridden for weeks and kept him out of international competition in July.

But having overcome world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka of Japan in the round of 16, he was still expected to reach the semi-finals, where he would be assured of at least a bronze medal.

After all, Lai is an unheralded 20-year-old who was world No. 100 at the start of the year before he became the Pan American champion in April.

Lai continued his upward trajectory in Paris by dispatching world No. 11 Lu Guangzu and 38th-ranked South Korean Jeon Hyeok-jin. Keeping things simple against Loh, he claimed another big scalp by capitalising on the Singaporean’s unforced errors in the long rallies.

Loh had his moments of brilliance that led to a game point in the first game. He also opened the second game with four straight points but could not hold on to his advantage as Lai earned a semi-final meeting with China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi, who beat compatriot Weng Hongyang 21-15, 7-21, 21-10.

The other semi-final will be contested between Thailand’s world No. 3 and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Denmark’s world No. 2 Anders Antonsen. The Thai beat Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie 21-14, 18-21, 21-8 while the Dane defeated Taiwanese Chou Tien-chen 21-17, 23-21.

Without mincing her words, national singles coach Kim Ji-hyun said: “TV viewers probably heard me say ‘Merry Christmas’ to Kean Yew after the first game, because I felt he was gifting away too many free points and making many unforced errors to allow Victor to seize the win.

“Kudos to Victor for being so fearless and playing a mature and strategic game.

“Kean Yew needs to be able to engage and keep pace with his opponents rather than rush to finish the points, as a poorly executed net tumble or wild smash at crucial points can cost a match.”

Next up for Loh is the Sept 9-14 Hong Kong Open and he hopes to get back to speed.

Thanking his supporters, he said: “I wasn’t fully ready coming to these world championships because of my illness. But once we step onto the court, we don’t get any handicap for not being prepared enough.

“Knowing that, I gave my everything and even went beyond my own limit, and I was actually shocked at my own performance and fitness, to be honest. Hopefully, I’ll be able to play better in Hong Kong.”