Loh Kean Yew on dealing with fame and expectations
There is plenty of pressure on Loh to deliver at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhouhis first appearance at the top continental Games.
After Singapore’s team event run was ended at the first hurdle by eventual semi-finalists Japan – Loh losing to Nishimoto Kenta in a three-game marathon – the attention quickly turned to the individual action.
With eight of the world’s top 10 (including himself) hailing from Asia, the road to a medal in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, will not be an easy one for the Malaysian-born shuttler.
“Men’s singles is very competitive and anything is possible,” Loh, currently world number nine, acknowledged. “Consistency is definitely one of the key factors and I’m doing whatever it takes to be more consistent while exploring more ways to improve myself.”
His good friend and occasional training partner Viktor Axelsen of Denmark is the current world number one, and Loh said he often takes cues from Axelsen.
“We rarely talk about badminton because both of our playing styles and our physiques are so different, but I do watch him and have learnt a lot from him, especially the way he is so focused during practice sessions.”
Will he be world number one in the future as some Singaporean fans hope? Axelsen has proven to be a tough nut to dislodge from the top spot, and Loh would prefer to be realistic.
“Many (people) may have their own expectations of me but I think I should focus more on my own expectations and my own goals.
“(But) of course, I also hope that I can be world number one, one day.”
2023-10-01 10:38:00
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