SINGAPORE – Soon after clinching a silver medal at the 2019 SEA Online games, Loh Kean Yew desires to do just one superior and get a gold at this year’s version of the competition, which will be held in Hanoi from Could 12-23.
The very last time Singapore gained the SEA Video games men’s singles title was in 1983, when Wong Shoon Keat accomplished the feat.
At the 2019 SEA Video games in the Philippines, Loh became the initial national shuttler to make it to the men’s ultimate because 2007, but missing to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia.
The 24-calendar year-outdated claimed: “I am unquestionably aiming for gold simply because I’ve by no means gotten a gold prior to so which is undoubtedly the goal.
“It’s been a prolonged time since Singapore got a gold at the SEA Game titles (in the men’s singles) so it would necessarily mean a ton for me and for Singapore.”
Loh was talking soon after an appreciation ceremony organised by the Singapore Badminton Affiliation (SBA) on Friday (April 15) at the OCBC Arena to thank Neo Backyard garden for its donation package deal well worth $300,000 that will go towards the improvement of SBA’s superior-functionality programmes.
The SBA’s high-general performance programme covers factors these types of as overseas education stints and competitions, as perfectly as the development of gamers on all stages.
The affiliation also ideas to carry in sparring associates from nations around the world these as Indonesia as aspect of preparations for this year’s important Video games.
The months leading up to the SEA Online games have been a understanding approach for Loh, who has been discovering to deal with the pressure that will come together with his status as the badminton environment winner.
But he sees this as an chance to boost, stating: “It’s tough in the feeling that since everyone’s analysing (my recreation) so I want to improvise my sport to be far better. So it can be a very good issue for me, it is also a superior thing for me to be better.
“The tension is generally heading to be there. It is not going to go away, it can be extra about how I cope with it. I think it is far better but I’m nonetheless finding out to cope with it so with any luck , I am going to come to be better and improved.”
Apart from the SEA Game titles, the nationwide shuttlers will also be involved in the July 28-Aug 8 Commonwealth Games and September’s Asian Video games this year.
SBA chief government Alan Ow claimed: “In phrases of sports sponsorship and donation in Singapore, we are not exactly in a very mature point out so for businesses to action ahead, particularly during this pandemic time period.
“We are glad that we can have Neo Back garden on board to assistance with the improvement of gamers, especially for the duration of this time period when we are two yrs absent from the Olympics, so we want to give our athletes every single probable prospect for a podium end and getting enough coaching and competitions will be crucial.”