YEO EYES NEXT OLYMPICS

Singaporean defiant after crushing narrow last-16 loss to world No. 10 Ohori

- David Lee

She lifted her collar over her face and sobbed at the media mixed zone.

Just moments earlier, Singapore badminton player Yeo Jia Min was involved in a heart-stopping and heart-rending 11-21, 21-14, 24-22 defeat by Japan's world No. 10 Aya Ohori.

In the delicately poised Paris 2024 Olympics women's singles round-of-16 match on Aug 1, Yeo took her opponent, whom she had never taken a game off in three previous attempts, to a dramatic decider.

After 55 minutes of rallies and unforced errors, it all came down to a 26-stroke exchange that ended when she hit the shuttlecock wide and both players simultaneously collapsed on the Porte de la Chapelle Arena floor.

After three years of preparation and thousands of hours of training, it all came down to who could hold her nerve better.

Something had to give, and it was Yeo.

The 25-year-old fought back from 3-0 and 15-13 down in the decider to earn a match point.