Loh Kean Yew and Yeo Jia Min make winning returns at badminton world championships

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Singapores Loh Kean Yew playing a shot to Mauritiuss Georges Julien Pau in their mens singles badminton match at the BWF World Championships in Paris on Aug 25.

PHOTO: AFP

Summary

• Loh Kean Yew won his first match at the BWF World Championships after recovering from a bacterial infection. He beat Julien Paul 21-15, 21-12.
• Yeo Jia Min also won her first match after recovering from an Achilles injury. She beat Thet Htar Thuzar 21-7, 21-10 and aims to win a world championships medal.
• Jason Teh lost his first match on his birthday despite having a match point. Malaysias Olympic bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia also lost in his comeback from injury and depression.

AI generated

SINGAPORE – Having secured the Taipei Open crown, a second-place finish at the German Open and a bronze at the Badminton Asia Championships in the first half of 2025, Loh Kean Yew was looking to extend his fine run and rise up the world rankings.

But the men’s singles world No. 9 was hit by a bacterial infection after a training camp in Taipei that left him confined to his bed, causing him to miss out on the Japan and China Opens in July.

On Aug 25, the 28-year-old made his return to international competition at the Badminton World Federation World Championships, overcoming a sluggish start at the Adidas Arena in Paris to beat 234th-ranked Mauritian Julien Paul 21-15, 21-12 in 31 minutes.