Loh Kean Yew and rising star Jason Teh joins Men's Doubles pair in Men's Singles semis, Insyirah Khan and Bernice Lim secure last four berth against Indonesians Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti
Terry Hee and Loh Kean Hean booked their Men's Doubles semi-final berth after defeating Thai pair Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG
Bac Giang, Vietnam, 21 May 2022 - Singapore shuttlers Terry Hee and Loh Kean Hean have secured at least another SEA Games bronze medal, after the pair reached the men's doubles semi-finals yesterday, overcoming Thai duo Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 21-18, 21-13 in the quarter-final round.
In so doing, they equalled Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Chayut Triyachat's achievement at the Singapore 2015 SEA Games, the last time Singapore reached the last four of the Southeast Asian Games for the Men's Doubles competition.
Thai duo Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul lost out to Singapore's Terry Hee and Loh Kean Hean in the men's doubles quarter finals. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG
Hee and Loh will next contest a place in the final with top-seeded Indonesian shuttlers Pramudya Kusumawardana and Yeremia Rambitan.
Hee and Loh's doubles chemistry has grown significantly over the past 12 months, and the pair shot to prominence when they lifted the Dutch Open Men's Doubles trophy in October last year.
Loh Kean Yew leaps high to smash in his quarter final clash with Jewel Angel Albo of the Philippines. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG
Men's Singles
In the men's singles, Singapore's top male shuttler Loh Kean Yew stayed on course for his first SEA Games badminton men's singles gold medal, and Singapore's first since 1983, after he defeated Philippines' Jewel Angel Albo 21-7, 21-8 in the last eight to set up a semi-final clash with Vietnam's Nguyen Tien Minh.
Nguyen booked his place in the semis after his quarter final opponenent Khosit Phetpradab of Thailand retired through injury while trailing in the first set.
Loh currently ranked world number 10, will fancy his chances of making the final against Vietnam's world number 69, to set up a possible all-Singapore final with teammate Jason Teh, who also made it through to the last four of the men's singles competition.
Loh Kean Yew in action at the Bac Giang Gymnasium during the 31st SEA Games. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG
Teh had defeated Indonesia's Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo 21-16, 21-16 to set up a clash with world number 18 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand, and will enter the fixture as the underdog.
Singapore has only ever won the badminton men's singles title once at the Southeast Asian Games through Wong Shoon Keat.
Women's Doubles
In the badminton women's doubles competition, Singapore's Insyirah Khan and Bernice Lim also sealed progress to the semi-final stage after defeating Angelique Ramos and Eleanor Inlayo of the Philippines 21-15, 21-19.
The duo are the first Singaporean pair to secure a bronze in the Women's Doubles competition since Yao Lei and Shinta Mulia Sari, who made the last four of the 2011 SEA Games at the Senayan Sports Complex in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Their path to the final is a challenging one however, as they face top-seeded Indonesians Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti in their semi-final.
Terry Hee stretches to return a shot during the Men's Doubles quarter finals at the Bac Giang Gymnasium. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG
No Joy for Mixed Doubles and Women's Singles
There was no joy however for Singapore's top female shuttler Yeo Jia Min, who was eliminated from the Women's Singles after falling 12-21, 16-21 to Thailand's Phittayaporn Chaiwan.
Singapore also did not make the semi-finals of the mixed doubles competition after Terry Hee and Tan Wei Han were defeated by Malaysians Chen Tang Jie and Peck Yen Wei.
For more 31st SEA Games badminton photos taken by SportPlus.sg, visit our photo gallery here.