Huelva: Singapore’s World No. 22 Loh Kean Yew looked to make a strong statement in this week’s 2021 BWF World Championships after a dominant showing in the third round on Thursday.
Loh destroyed World No. 20 Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand with astonishing performance, bamboozling Wangcharoen in barely 30 minutes with 21-4, 21-7.
“I didn’t want to slow down my attacks and rest, even though I was leading by a lot,” said Loh.
“If I slow down, and if the opponent catches up, it’s going to be difficult and we may need to play the third game,” added Loh.
“This is the first World Championships quarter-finals for me, I just want to enjoy my match, take one match at a time, and give my best, that’s all,” explained Loh.
Loh will face H. S. Prannoy of India on Friday.
In other men’s singles third round match, Malaysia’s World No. 7 was struggling in the second game against Denmark’s World No. 21 Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus, but Lee regrouped emphatically in the third set, breaking early and taking a 19-6 lead before winning the game 21-15, 15-21, 21-10.
“I have to give Vittinghus a lot of credit for his fighting spirit,” said Lee.
Speaking about his next opponent, the World No. 3 Anders Antonsen of Denmark, Lee said it’s going to be a tough match against Antonsen.
“Antonsen had grown to be a very mature player in the last few years. I have to prepare myself well against Antonsen,” added Lee.
“I am telling myself this is a big tournament, and the men’s game is wide open right now. I just want to see how far I can go,” explained Lee.
In addition to Lee, two men’s doubles pairs and one mixed doubles pair from Malaysia have successfully advanced to the quarter-finals.
The World No. 12 Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi overcame World No. 9 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty of India 22-20, 18-21, 21-15 to set up a quarter-final encounter with Tokyo Olympics gold medalist – Lee Yang/Wang Chi-lin of Taiwan; while World No. 14 Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong were made to work hard by Bjarne Geiss/Jan Colin Völker of Germany before clinching the quarter-final spot by beating the German pair 21-14, 14-21, 21-17.
Goh/Tan will next take on World No. 24 He Ji Ting/Tan Qiang of China who defeated Malaysia’s World No. 7 Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik 17-21, 21-14, 21-16 on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s World No. 14 mixed doubles pair, Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai survived a spirited comeback attempt from World No. 80 Yeung Ming Nok/Ng Tsz Yau of Hong Kong, fended off the challenge 21-8, 19-21, 21-19 to play World No. 1 Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand on Friday.
