Loh Kean Yew misses out on gold at Asian Games badminton, 1st S’porean to get silver - Mothership

He missed out on gold after losing to Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew has become the first Singaporean to win a silver medal at the Asian Games badminton men’s singles event.

The 29-year-old missed out on gold on Sep. 29 after losing to world number one Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn at the finals in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Loh lost to Kunlavut with a score of 2-0.

He lost the final game 21-16 after losing the first round 21-12.

Loh’s silver is the first time Singapore has won an Asiad medal in the badminton event in 20 years, the last being the women’s team bronze at the 2006 Doha Games.

Loh, who is currently world number 13, earlier became the first Singaporean shuttler to be guaranteed a medal at the Asiad after beating then-world number one Jonatan Christie during the quarter-finals on Sep. 27.

It marked Loh’s first victory against the Indonesian and 2018 champion after 11 meetings.

Earlier in the Games, he beat India’s Lakshya Sen in the second round, according to CNA.

In the round of 16, he beat Malaysia’s Justin Hoh 21-14, 21-14 to advance to the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Kunlavut is the first Thai to make it to the Asian Games men's singles final, and the first to win gold.