Loh Needs a Faster Start

Coach wants to see 'explosive' opening in world championships last 16 against Naraoka

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Local badminton star Loh Kean Yew's winning momentum continued on Aug 27 after a straight-sets victory saw him book a place in the last 16 of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships.

At the Adidas Arena in Paris, the world No. 9 dismantled Finland's 53rd-ranked Kalle Koljonen 21-14, 21-14 in 39 minutes.

He will face Japan's eighth-ranked Kodai Naraoka on Aug 28 for a place in the quarter-finals, after the 24-year-old saw off Ireland's Nhat Nguyen 21-18, 21-14.

Loh, the 2021 world champion, was tied at 13-13 with Koljonen in the first game before springing clear.

There was a similar pattern in the second game, with the score at 8-8 before Loh upped the ante.

After the victory, the Singaporean said he was glad to have won a tough match.

"I've played Kalle and trained with him a few times, so it was quite tricky to know each other pretty well," he said.

"I had a slow start again today but I'm glad that I managed to catch up in the end.

"I have to adapt quicker to the situation and hopefully, next round will be better."

Loh had also overcome a sluggish start in his opening match on Aug 25 to beat 234th-ranked Mauritian Julien Paul 21-15, 21-12.

He has been working hard to regain his winning touch after sitting out the last few tournaments.