Loh Kean Yew’s Thailand Open run ends in semis loss to bogeyman Kunlavut Vitidsarn

SINGAPORE – Loh Kean Yew’s run of eight straight wins came to a screeching halt on May 17 at the hands of a familiar bogeyman, as home favourite Kunlavut Vitidsarn defeated the Singaporean 21-10, 21-12 in the singles semi-final at the US$475,000 (S$616,000) Thailand Open.

It was the Thai world No. 2’s eighth straight victory over Loh since 2021 – their head-to-head record stands at 8-1.

Kunlavut will face Denmark’s world No. 3 Anders Antonsen in the final of the Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 500 event at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok on May 18.

Loh said: “I started well but as the game went on, it was getting more and more difficult to score winners. I gave my everything but it wasn’t enough.”

The world No. 11 last beat his Thai nemesis in their first meeting at the 2015 Thailand International Challenge, but has found it difficult to eke out another win in a decade.

The opening game saw Loh staying neck and neck with Kunlavut, but the Singaporean was made to work hard for every point against an opponent who does not commit many unforced errors.

The Thai world champion also uses his speed, agility and determination to hunt down every shot on the court.

After missing the chance to level the game at 9-9 with a smash into the net, Loh’s patient game went to pieces, as the unforced errors racked up and Kunlavut won 11 out of the next 13 points to claim the first game.

The Thai won the second game at a canter to stake his claim on his third title of the season, after triumphs at the Indonesia Masters in January and Badminton Asia Championships in April.

National singles head coach Kim Ji-hyun said: “Today, Kean Yew was unable to execute his killing shots, and Kunlavut’s defence was simply too strong. He will need to eliminate the unforced errors against the top players, improve skills all-round as well as his shot selection at the critical points.”

It was not all doom and gloom for Loh as he pocketed US$6,887.50 for his fourth semi-final of the season. He won the Taipei Open on May 11, and was second and joint-third at the German Open and Asia Championships respectively.

His semi-final run at the Thailand Open should also see him return to the world’s top 10 and leapfrog compatriot Jason Teh and Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi for top spot in the race to the year-end BWF World Tour Finals.

The 27-year-old will skip the May 20-25 Malaysia Masters to recover and prepare for the KFF Singapore Open (May 27-June 1) and Indonesia Open (June 3-8).

He said: “I’m looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd. Hopefully I’ll be able to perform well.”

David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis.

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