Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min made history on Sunday by securing her first Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour title since 2019, defeating Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Linh in the German Open final. The victory marks a significant milestone for the 26-year-old as she claimed the Super 300 title in straight sets, 21-16, 21-17, in just 41 minutes at the Westenergie Sporthalle in Mulheim, Germany.
Ranked 13th in the world, Yeo entered the match as the tournament’s top seed, holding a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over world number 29 Nguyen. Their most recent encounter was at the Indian Open earlier this year, where Yeo also emerged victorious.
Her journey to the title was marked by an impressive semi-final win against Denmark’s defending champion, Mia Blichfeldt. In the final, Yeo built an early lead, going up 11-7 at the first interval. Although Nguyen narrowed the gap, Yeo maintained composure to close out the opening game. The second game saw Nguyen take an early lead, but a combination of precise net play and unforced errors from the Vietnamese player allowed Yeo to regain control. Despite a late comeback attempt from Nguyen, Yeo held firm to secure her maiden Super 300 title.
Expressing her joy, Yeo credited her coach, Kim Ji Hyun, for guiding her to this victory. “This title means a lot to me. Coach Kim and I set this goal at the start of the year, and I’m so happy to have achieved this breakthrough,” she said. She highlighted the importance of mental and tactical preparation, noting that while adjustments take time, she is continuously improving under her coach’s guidance.
This victory is Yeo’s first BWF title since the Super 100 Hyderabad Open in 2019. Last year, she won the Polish Open, an International Challenge event one tier below the BWF World Tour. Her last appearance in a BWF World Tour final was at the 2021 Hylo Open, where she finished as runner-up to Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s hopes for a clean sweep in the singles events were dashed as Loh Kean Yew fell to two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in the men’s final. Despite putting up a strong fight, Loh lost in straight games, 21-19, 21-18, in 54 minutes.
The first game saw Loh pushing Axelsen to the limit, but the top-seeded Dane edged ahead to take the set. In the second game, Axelsen appeared to be in full control and even held eight championship points. However, Loh mounted a dramatic comeback, saving all eight points before Axelsen finally closed out the match.
Loh, ranked 15th in the world, entered the match with a 2-10 record against Axelsen, having last defeated the world number four at the 2022 Denmark Open. Despite the loss, his journey to the final included an impressive semi-final victory over Japan’s Koo Takahashi, securing his first championship match appearance since winning the Super 300 Spain Masters in 2023.
Singapore Badminton Association president Lawrence Leow praised the performances of Yeo and Loh, calling their finals appearances a "cause for celebration" as the country marks SG60. “Jia Min’s victory today only made it sweeter,” he said, acknowledging the hard work of players, coaches, and administrators in Singapore’s badminton scene over the years.
Yeo’s breakthrough and Loh’s strong performance signal promising prospects for Singapore badminton as both players continue their pursuit of success on the international stage.
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