TeamSG Shuttlers are Ready to Compete against World's Best, at KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2023!

TeamSG's Terry Hee, Jessica Tan, Loh Kean Yew and Yeo Jia Min at the 2022 SBO. Photo Credit : Team Nila Content Producer, Eric Koh

One of the Republic's most prestigious annual sporting events gets underway in the Lion City from 6 June onwards, when the KFF Singapore Badminton Open - Presented by JK Technology, takes place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Organised by the Singapore Badminton Association, the 6-day long Singapore Badminton Open (SBO) is a Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 750 series event. And it will feature all the top-15 singles players and top-10 doubles pairs battling it out for glory and the US$850,000 prize purse.

The 2022 Men's singles champion Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (INA) and the women's title-holder PV Sindhu (IND), are returning to defend their respective titles. Also back in the Lion City are the reigning SBO's men's, women's and mixed doubles' champions, for this star-studded badminton extravaganza. Meanwhile, Team Singapore is sending a 6-member squad to compete at the Indoor Stadium. They comprise : 

Men's Singles : Loh Kean Yew
Women's Singles : Yeo Jia Min
Women's Doubles : Crystal Wong & Jin Yujia
Mixed Doubles : Terry Hee and Jessica Tan 

TeamSG's Loh Kean Yew at the 2022 Singapore Badminton Open. Photo Credit : Singapore Badminton Association

In the final stage preparations for the Super 750 event, ActiveSG Circle caught up with Kean Yew, Jia Min, Terry and Jessica, to get their thoughts of the 2023 Singapore Badminton Open. Having reached the semi-final stage last year, Kean Yew starts his SBO journey this time round with a round-of-32 clash against Hong Kong's 17th ranked, Lee Cheuk Yiu. World no 4 Kean Yew's potential opponents in the lower half of the draw also includes 7th ranked Kunlavut Vitidasarn (THA), defending champion Anthony Ginting (INA) and Malaysian star shuttler, Lee Zi Jia. 

Loh Kean Yew (World Number 4)

Q : We’re almost at the halfway mark of the 2023 season. How would you describe your campaign up to this point?
Kean Yew : It hasn’t been easy so far, because there are lots of ups and downs. But I got to keep pushing and work harder in training, make every opportunity count and qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

 

Q : Which was your toughest or brightest moment in the last 5 months?
Kean Yew : Unfortunately, my toughest time also fell on one of the most important tournaments – the All England Championships. I did not perform as well as I should and was confused with my style of play. It didn’t help that I caught Covid again, which took me out of training and momentum for a while.

 

TeamSG's Loh Kean Yew at the 2022 Singapore Badminton Open. Photo Credit : Singapore Badminton Association

 

 

Q : At the 2023 Singapore Open, you have a more challenging route to the Final. How would you sum up the Men’s Singles Draw?

Kean Yew : It’ll be a challenging route to the final, at this level of competition everyone is a tough opponent and there are no easy matches. Every match requires my full concentration, and my approach is to focus on one match at a time.

 

Q : What is your target this time round?

Kean Yew : I will give it my all and hope to do well in Singapore Open. I do not want to set expectations, but only to focus on the path ahead, put on my best performance and overcome every challenge as it comes.

 

Q : A message to the Singapore fans?

Kean Yew : I look forward to seeing all the fans who will be coming to support us at the KFF Singapore Badminton Open. It’ll be a fun and exciting week of badminton, see you all there.

 

TeamSG's Terry Hee and Jessica Tan at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Photo Credit : Sport Singapore 

 

 

Terry Hee and Jessica Tan (World No 26 and 2022 Commonwealth Games' Champions)

 

Q : Terry, how would you sum up the recent SEA Games campaign when you competed in the Team event?

Terry : I think overall it was a good experience and it’s always an honour to represent Singapore at a Major Games. Unfortunately due to the clashing schedule with the Sudirman Cup, we could only take part in the Team event in Cambodia 2023. And as the men played together, I could not partner with Jessica. But it was enjoyable playing with different partners. Everyone competed wholeheartedly and supported each other really well.  

 

Q : Jessica, since the Mixed Doubles was not included at Cambodia 2023, was that a major setback for you?
Jessica : I don’t see it as a setback, but rather it’s just a missed opportunity. In its place, we participated in the Sudirman Cup instead, which comparatively was more beneficial as it had world ranking points which contributed to Olympic qualification.

 

Q: What have the both of you been working on, leading up to the Singapore Open?
Terry : We are currently working on the mental aspects of our game. For example, the kind of thinking that goes into motivating ourselves, when we are a number of points behind or keeping our feet on the throttle, when we are in the lead. Hopefully, we will be able to perform well on homeground before our fans in the Singapore Open.  

 

Q : Which was your toughest or brightest moment in the last 5 months?

Jessica : To be honest, we think the last 5 months of performances are not really up to standard, especially when we have been ranked a career high of number 13 in the world. But we are regaining our form and momentum. We've been working on things to improve, and we are happy that it’s starting to show results.  

 

TeamSG's mixed doubles pairing of Terry Hee and Jessica Tan at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo Credit : Sport Singapore

 

 

 

Q : Any regrets in the 2023 season so far?
Terry : There’s no regrets in what we do, as long as we give our 110% or even 200% every time we step on court! Win or lose, we have put in our best efforts.  

 

Q : At the Singapore Open, how would you sum up the Mixed Doubles Draw?
Jessica : In our opening match, we will face Denmark's 17th-ranked Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje. It's always a tougher draw when you’re not seeded, but we are ready to give our opponents a good fight. We have come very close to beating some of the top-seeded players in recent tournaments, and we are confident that we can beat them.

 

Q : What is your target this time round in the SBO?
Terry : The target as always is to be able to perform well and go deep into any competition. Regardless of the outcome, we hope to give our home crowd and fans in Singapore a positive and memorable performance.  

 

 Q : A message to the Singapore fans?
Jessica : Thank you to all our fans in Singapore for all your support! We hope to again give you the high that Singapore collectively experienced in our Commonwealth Games gold medal match last July. See you soon at Singapore Open 2023 … and maybe we can grab a few wefies together!

 

TeamSG's Yeo Jia Min at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo Credit : Sport Singapore

 

 

Yeo Jia Min (Bronze medallist, 2022 Commonwealth Games)

 

Q : We’re almost at the halfway mark of the 2023 season. How would you describe your campaign so far?
Jia Min : I would say that it’s been a value adding season so far, because I’m learning and improving my game from every match.

 

Q : Which was your toughest or brightest moment in the last 5 months?

Jia Min : I would say winning the Polish Open in late March! It was a week where I found momentum and confidence in myself again.

 

Q : What did you take back from the recent SEA Games campaign?

Jia Min : In the SEA Games team event, I played the first singles match for the team. And I felt that there was some growth in me, as I was able to compete without letting the pressure get to me like before.

 

 TeamSG's Yeo Jia Min at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo Credit : Sport Singapore

 

 

Q : At the upcoming Singapore Open, how would you sum up the Women’s Singles Draw?
Jia Min : It’s an exciting draw with all the top players coming to compete in Singapore. In the bottom half of the draw, I will face 17th ranked Zhang Yi Man (CHN) in the round-of-32. And the top half comprises, World no 1 Akane Yamaguchi (JPN), defending champion PV Sindhu (IND) and the recently crowned SEA Games gold medallist, Supanida Katethong (THA).

 

Q : What is your target this time round?

Jia Min : Knowing that there will be difficult situations on court , my target is to overcome them and find ways to win.

 

Q : A message to the Singapore fans?

Jia Min : I hope you all could come to give us support and to meet with many of you this Singapore Open!