Badminton: Singapore's Loh Kean Yew beaten as men's team takes SEA Games joint-bronze after Indonesia loss

PHNOM PENH: There were contrasting fortunes for Singapore’s top male and female singles badminton players on Wednesday (May 10) but the same end result - joint-bronzes in the men’s and women’s team events at the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The results mean that both teams matched their showings at last year’s Hanoi Games. 

In a pulsating game at Morodok Techo National Stadium Badminton Hall in the Cambodian capital, Indonesia’s Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo held his nerve to upset Singapore’s world number 4 Loh Kean Yew in the opening match of the men’s team semi-finals.

The world number 19 went on to take the match 10-21, 21-7, 24-22. It was Loh’s second loss to Wardoyo this year. 

The pair of Loh Kean Hean and Terry Hee (world ranked 61) put up a strong fight against the world number 14 duo of Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana, but were edged 21-15, 21-17.

Jason Teh grabbed a point for Singapore after beating Christian Adinata 21-15, 12-21, 21-14.

Despite a spirited fight by youngsters Nge Joo Jie and Johann Prajogo, Indonesians Pramudya Kusumawardana and Yeremia Rambitan closed out the tie 21-18, 21-16.

In the women's team semi-finals, world number 34 Yeo Jia Min notched up an impressive win over Thailand’s world number 23 Lalinrat Chaiwan 21-15, 21-6 to get Singapore off to a strong start.

But the defending gold medallists won the next three matches for a 3-1 victory.

Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai beat Jin Yu Jia and Crystal Wong 12-21, 21-9, 21-14, while Supanida Katethong dispatched Insyirah Khan 21-11, 21-8.

Benyapa and Nuntakarn Aimsaard wrapped up the overall win for Thailand when they swept aside Heng Xiao En and Elsa Lai 21-6, 21-7.