SINGAPORE: It was a double pleasure for Singapore badminton at the Yonex Dutch Open on Sunday (October 17), as they swept the men’s singles and doubles titles.
Loh Kean Yew took the singles crown, beating Lakshya Sen of India 21-12, 21-16 in the final.
Loh’s older brother Kean Hean handed over second gold for the country when he teamed up with Terry Hee for victory in the doubles event.
They beat Malaysia’s sixth seeded Tan Wee Kiong and Tan Kian Meng, 21-14, 18-21, 22-20 in the final.
It was Kean Yew who got the ball rolling on Sunday.
The world number 41 was second seeded in the tournament at the Topsportcentrum in Almere, near Amsterdam.
Wins over Vladimir Malkov of Russia, Ade Resky Dwicahyo of Azerbaijan, Nhat Nguyen of Ireland and Pablo Abian of Spain in the previous rounds had led to the championship decision.
It took 36 minutes to beat Sen, the world number 25 and the tournament’s top favorite, to claim his sixth international title, his first since Thailand Masters 2019, where he beat two-time Olympic singles champion Lin Dan in the final.
The 24-year-old’s other titles came in the 2018 Mongolia International Series, the 2017 Malaysia International Series and the 2017 and 2014 Singapore International Series.
Speaking to CNA, Kean Yew said that his goal had been to reach the final.
“I’m glad I reached that goal,” he said. “I got off to a good start and took advantage of the momentum.”
In a Facebook post, the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) described the glove as a “fascinating and competitive match”.
.
