Yeo Jia Min tops group after second win, through to last 16 at Olympics

PARIS – Three years after she bade a tearful farewell to Tokyo 2020 following a group-stage exit, Yeo Jia Min has become the first Singaporean badminton player to reach the Olympics round of 16 since 2012.

On July 30, the world No. 20 eased past Mauritius’ 93rd-ranked Kate Foo Kune 21-12, 21-6 at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena to progress as the Group I winner in the women’s singles. That came after a victory over refugee Dorsa Yavarivafa three days earlier.

Yeo will face 10th-ranked Aya Ohori on Aug 1 for a place in the quarter-finals. But while she has not beaten the Japanese in three tries, the 25-year-old hopes that a new outlook can provide a different result.

The former junior world No. 1 has had to battle niggling injuries, but said she has grown stronger physically and mentally over the years.

She added: “Tokyo was my first Olympics and I remember being very nervous and I wasn’t fully fit. This time, I try to be more calm and stay in the zone.

“I feel I’m more calculated in terms of when to attack and defend. I read situations better now, which will be useful against a stronger opponent next. She is an attacking player and I will need to prepare a good strategy for her.

“I feel like I have more momentum after the first match, and anything can happen at the Olympics. I just want to play freely on court, give my best and have no regrets.”

The last time a Singaporean had reached the Olympic badminton’s round of 16 was at London 2012, where Gu Juan lost to Cheng Shao-chieh of Chinese Taipei.

Meanwhile, Indonesia men’s singles world No. 4 Jonatan Christie will have plenty to think about after he became badminton’s first seeded casualty at these Games.

He lost 21-18, 21-12 to India’s 22nd-ranked Lakshya Sen, who topped Group L and could face 13th-ranked compatriot H.S. Prannoy or Vietnam’s world No. 70 Le Duc Phat from Group K.

Lost for words, Christie said: “I’m feeling a lot of emotions now which I find hard to express.”

Similarly, women’s singles world No. 3 Tai Tzu-ying, one of the sport’s most creative players, will not be able to round up her career with an Olympic gold after the Tokyo Games silver medallist from Chinese Taipei lost 21-19, 21-15 to Thailand’s 21st-ranked Ratchanok Intanon, who advanced as Group E winner.

Tai, 30, has won four season-ending titles on the world tour and gold medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships, but ultimate success has eluded her at the Olympics and world championships with silver medals, both in 2021.

“I know there are a lot of people who support me, but I’m not very well. Before I came here, I knew I would find it hard to play the game because of my injury,” said an emotional Tai, who, ahead of the Games, had announced her retirement at the end of the 2024 season.

Ratchanok said: “It disturbed me to know that this could be my last match against her because she is retiring soon. We have a similar style. Playing against her was like facing a mirror, and I may not get the chance to do that again after today. After the match, I wished her all the best and she wished me good luck.”

The Thai is one of three group winners who will receive a bye to the quarter-finals as there are only 13 groups, and the 29-year-old is now just two wins away from adding an Olympic medal to her 2013 world title, even if she is not expecting a medal here.

She added: “I cannot say I can play in another Olympics. I’ve been playing badminton for more than half of my life. I’m getting older, I have to take care of my body.”

Denmark’s defending men’s singles champion Viktor Axelsen is also through to the last eight after beating Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen 21-13, 21-10 to top Group P.

Singapore’s world No. 12 Loh Kean Yew was scheduled to play El Salvador’s 50th-ranked Uriel Canjura late on July 31, and another win will see him top Group M and set up a potentially tantalising last-16 clash with China’s world No. 6 Li Shifeng the following day.

Compatriots and 17th-ranked mixed doubles pair of Terry Hee and Jessica Tan were eliminated on July 29 after they finished third in Group D, with only the top two of four groups advancing to the quarter-finals.