BWF Hong Kong Open 2024: Loh Kean Yew sent packing in first round, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting grinds to progress
The Paris 2024 quarter-finalist loses in straight sets to the Republic of Korea's Jeon Hyeokjin as Ginting passes three-game test vs Toma Junior Popov of France.
Badminton
Loh Kean Yew was stunned in straight sets by Jeon Hyeokjin in the first round of the BWF Hong Kong Open on Wednesday (11 September).
The former world champion went down 21-17, 21-17 to the world No. 40 from the Republic of Korea, who now has beaten Loh twice in as many career meetings.
Loh was up 16-14 in the first game but allowed Jeon to win seven of the last eight points, giving away the set.
Jeon controlled most of the second game. Loh went up by one midway through, but Jeon pulled away from 12-12 and never looked back to secure passage to the next round.
Since the Paris 2024 Olympics where he reached the quarter-finals, Loh has crashed out of both the Hong Kong and Japan Open at the first hurdle.
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting managed to survive his test on the same court, defeating Frenchman Toma Junior Popov 21-9, 12-21, 21-10 to advance.
It was all Ginting in the opening game as the Indonesian led throughout but in the second, threw Popov a lifeline by letting him equalise 10-10 before cruising to even the score at one set apiece.
Ginting managed to reestablish his authority in the decisive game by never trailing to Popov, leading by as much as 16-2.