Tactical tweak helps Loh Kean Yew stage comeback win to reach Taipei Open final

SINGAPORE – World No. 11 Loh Kean Yew is one win away from his 10th career title after he beat home hopeful Wang Tzu-wei 21-18, 21-9 in the men’s singles semi-finals of the US$240,000 (S$311,650) Taipei Open on May 10.

He will meet Taiwanese world No. 7 Chou Tien-chen in the final on May 11. The four-time Taipei Open champion, who beat India’s 44th-ranked Ayush Shetty 21-18, 21-17 in the other semi-final, has a 4-3 head-to-head record against Loh after winning their latest meeting in the 2024 Thailand Masters final.

The 27-year-old Singaporean said: “I’m happy to be in another final. The job is not done and I shall remain focused and be ready for tomorrow. It’s going to be another tough game facing the home favourite, but I will prepare myself to the fullest and give it my all.”

After a rousing welcome for both players in the first semi-final at the Taipei Arena, it was Wang who settled down quickest as Loh misjudged the flight of the shuttlecock to allow Wang to draw first blood and proceeded to lose the next six points as well.

At the interval, the seven-point deficit remained as Loh lifted his shot too long for the third time.

Despite growing into the game and capitalising on his opponent’s mistakes to get to 9-11, Loh soon found himself trailing 10-16 as Wang won with a series of good net plays and body shots.

A timely tactical shift paid dividends, as national singles head coach Kim Ji-hyun said: “Because of the draught, the speed of the shuttle was so much faster on one side of the court compared to the other side. I had to ask Kean Yew to change tactics to attack more and dominate the front court.”

Loh agreed, adding: “I had trouble controlling the draught which was not to my favour, so I did my best to come up with solutions and I’m glad I managed to turn the tide.”

Then came the stunning comeback as the Singaporean found his range and was able to unleash his ferocious attacks.

Loh struck critical psychological blows, winning a challenge to make it 16-16, before coming out tops in an enthralling 49-shot rally featuring quick reflexes and theatrical saves to lead for the first time at 18-17. He then closed out the game 21-18 with good net shots and yelled: “Come on!”

World No. 26 Wang, whose last tournament was at the Swiss Open in March when he retired with injury, later admitted he had problems getting back into the game after his opponent raised the tempo.

He had beaten the Singaporean in their last three encounters, with six of their eight previous meetings going to a decider.

Loh was in no mood to extend proceedings this time round, showing a good variety of shots to stay unpredictable as he eased to a 21-9 win in the second game to seal his place in the final.

It has been a steady return to form for the 2021 world champion after he won just five out of 15 matches since making it to the

2024 Paris Olympics quarter-finals

.

In 2025, he reached the German Open final in March, losing to Denmark’s Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen. He also made it to the All England Open quarter-finals later that month and

finished joint-third at the Badminton Asia Championships

in April.

Besides his 2021 world title, Loh has won thrice on the Badminton World Federation World Tour with victories at the 2019 Thailand Masters, 2021 Hylo Open and 2024 Spain Masters. He also has five lower-tier international titles.