Loh Kean Yew beats world number one at Indonesia Open, secures spot in quarter finals
This is his first career victory over the world number one, Momota Kento.
Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew beat Japan’s Momota Kento in a grueling one-hour match on Nov 25, securing his spot in the Indonesia Open’s quarter-finals.
Loh won the first match easily, but lost the second match after a rallied effort from Momota.
“I thought I should just tahan, and throw everything out there,” says Loh.
The results of the three matches were 21-7, 17-21, 21-19, with Loh clinching match point in the third match after Momota missed the net. Immediately after this, both players fell to the ground panting. Their game lasted 69 minutes.
This is Loh’s first career win over Momota, who holds the Guinness World Record for most badminton men’s singles titles in a season.
He is currently ranked 26th for badminton world mens’ singles, and Momota is ranked fir1st. Loh will face Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus—who is ranked 21st in world mens’ singles— in the quarter-finals on Nov 26.
