BWF Australian Open 2024: Loh Kean Yew stunned by India’s Sameer Verma

Singaporean Loh Kean Yew is out of the BWF Australian Open 2024 men’s singles badminton competition in the second round after being edged out by Sameer Verma on Thursday (13 June).

The number eight seed was defeated in an entertaining three-set affair by Verma of India, who won 21-14, 14-21, 21-19 in Sydney. Loh was already up against it in the opening set and had to come back to level it up in the second with an identical score.

The final set was the closest of them all – just two points in it in the end - and in a battle of nerves, it was Verma who came out on top to book his place in the quarter-final and shock the former world champion.

Loh is the first seed to be eliminated from the men’s singles competition, while Verma’s stellar performance means he will take on Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi in the next round on Friday (14 June).

Lee Zii Jia is Malaysia’s last competitor standing after he beat compatriot Soong Joo Ven 21-18 , 21-14. Lee will next face Nishimoto Kenta of Japan.

Second seed Naraoka Kodai made it through in straight sets, albeit a tight affair lasting over an hour. The Japanese battled past Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand 21-17, 21-18 to progress to the final eight.

Verma was not the only Indian man to taste success on Thursday, as H.S. Prannoy won comfortably against Misha Zilberman of Israel. The competition’s fifth seed prevailed in straight sets on Court 2, winning 21-17, 21-15 to set up an enticing quarter-final with Naraoka.

The other men’s singles quarter-finals see an all-Chinese Taipei matchup between Chou Tien Chen and Lee Chia Hao.

The later rounds of the Australian Open are available to stream live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the Olympics mobile app, subject to territorial restrictions.