Asian Games debutant Loh Kean Yew exclusive: The challenges of dealing with fame and pressure
The Singaporean shuttler, ranked eighth in Asia and ninth in the world, makes his Asian Games debut. Find out in our exclusive interview how the 2021 world champion is dealing with all the expectations.
Badminton
Life in the limelight can be challenging.
Just ask Loh Kean Yew,
When he won gold at the 2021 World Championships, Loh became the first Singaporean to clinch the world title in badminton, and one of Singapore's few global sporting stars.
Perhaps only Singapore's swimming Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling could boast of similar levels of national recognition, at least on a sporting level, with brands lining up to partner with Loh.
"It does feel good to receive all the attention to a certain extent but at the same time I lose my privacy as well," Loh admitted in an interview with Olympics.com at August's World Championships. "I hope to be able to strike a balance and hope the fans understand as well.
"It is not easy because the things I do sometimes come with certain expectations. Nonetheless, I always try my best to be a good role model to others, as much as possible."
In addition to scrutiny as a star, Loh is also dealing with the added attention as a bona fide medal hopeful for Singapore.
"I’m still learning on how to better cope with the pressure (of performing well). I hope to keep improving myself till I reach that point where I can always perform to my best especially when the pressure hits the hardest."
Loh Kean Yew on dealing with fame and expectations
There is plenty of pressure on Loh to deliver at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou, his first appearance at the top continental Games.
After Singapore's team event run was ended at the first hurdle by eventual semi-finalists Japan – Loh losing to Nishimoto Kenta in a three-game marathon – the attention quickly turned to the individual action.
With eight of the world's top 10 (including himself) hailing from Asia, the road to a medal in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, will not be an easy one for the Malaysian-born shuttler.
"Men’s singles is very competitive and anything is possible," Loh, currently world number nine, acknowledged. "Consistency is definitely one of the key factors and I’m doing whatever it takes to be more consistent while exploring more ways to improve myself."
His good friend and occasional training partner Viktor Axelsen of Denmark is the current world number one, and Loh said he often takes cues from Axelsen.
"We rarely talk about badminton because both of our playing styles and our physiques are so different, but I do watch him and have learnt a lot from him, especially the way he is so focused during practice sessions."
Will he be world number one in the future as some Singaporean fans hope? Axelsen has proven to be a tough nut to dislodge from the top spot, and Loh would prefer to be realistic.
"Many (people) may have their own expectations of me but I think I should focus more on my own expectations and my own goals.
"(But) of course, I also hope that I can be world number one, one day."
How to watch Loh Kean Yew at the Asian Games in Hangzhou
Loh will be in action at the Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou for the men's singles competition.
You can watch him – and all of Team Singapore's athletes – on MediaCorp Channel 5 and on mewatch.sg if you're in Singapore.
- Monday 2 October, 10:00 – Round of 64
- Tuesday 3 October, 10:00 – Round of 32
- Wednesday 4 October, 10:00 – Round of 16
- Thursday 5 October, 9:00 or 17:00 – Quarter-final
- Friday 6 October, 9:00 or 17:00 – Semi-final (losing semi-finalists win bronze)
- Saturday 7 October, 14:00 – Gold medal match