Singapore’s former world champion Loh Kean Yew shared on Friday that learning to ignore the external criticism from “keyboard warriors” and concentrating on his own progress has enabled him to regain stability
on the international circuit. This revelation came as he advanced to the semifinals of the India Open Super 750.
The 28-year-old gained global recognition in 2021 when, as the world number 22, he became the first Singaporean to win the BWF World Championships in Huelva, Spain. However, the sudden surge of expectations led to inconsistent performances and ongoing criticism in the subsequent years.
“It’s normal for people to expect more from me after winning the world championships, but they didn’t know that before that, I hadn’t achieved much,” Loh remarked after defeating world number two Kunlavut Vitidsarn. “It was a huge step for me at that point.”
Loh explained that he has since grown mentally and no longer lets external expectations influence his approach. “I’ve matured quite a bit mentally. I don’t really care about what others expect from me. I have my own goals and I’m just working on myself, trying to progress at my own pace,” he said.
Following his world title, Loh experienced a prolonged title drought, which ended with his victory at the Madrid Spain Masters in 2024. He has remained within the world’s top 10 since May last year and secured another title at the Taipei Open in 2025, his first in 14 months.
The Singaporean, who has represented his country at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, acknowledged that ignoring criticism was challenging, given the constant scrutiny. “It took quite a while. While trying to ignore the noise, I also focused on self-improvement, even with everyone watching. It’s not easy,” he admitted.
“Even if I see the criticism, I just ignore it. They’re just keyboard warriors. They can play with me anytime—I’ll beat them,” he added with a smile.
When asked about the voices he listens to now, Loh joked, “My baby’s cry and my wife’s love language,” before adding, “There’s a lot of encouragement from my team, my wife, and my family.”
On Friday, Loh achieved his first victory over Thailand’s Kunlavut since 2015, noting the physical strain on his opponent. “I know Kunlavut is very tired from last week and this week. Even so, he showed his level. I’m glad I managed to push myself and overcome my own limits,” he said.
Regarding his goals for the new year, Loh mentioned that the relentless badminton calendar leaves little room for traditional resolutions. “Not really. I mean, yes, it’s a new year and people set resolutions. But in badminton, we never have a season-ending; it’s always ongoing. So I just try to focus on myself and progress,” he said.
When asked about the importance of being in the top 10-15, he responded, “Yes, but honestly, I don’t think much about it. I’m just focusing on my own process. Still, I’m glad I managed to stay in the top 10 for quite a while,” he concluded.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
