Singapore star Loh Kean Yew playing for new son’s ‘diapers and formula’ at Hong Kong Open
Singaporean 27-year-old, aiming to recapture his world-champion form, will face Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk-yiu in a first-round clash on Tuesday
Singapore badminton star Loh Kean Yew said he was “finding my new self” on the match court after becoming a father two months ago.
Former world champion Loh, who begins his Hong Kong Open campaign against home favourite Lee Cheuk-yiu on Tuesday, missed the birth of his first child to prepare for this summer’s Olympic Games.
Loh reached the quarter-finals in Paris, where he was beaten by eventual champion and close friend Viktor Axelsen, before finally meeting his newborn during a fortnight’s break at home.
The 27-year-old returned to action with defeat in the opening round of August’s Japan Open. While acknowledging it was “not easy to switch back” into competition mode following a whirlwind few months, Loh said his son had provided fresh inspiration.
“[Being a dad] gives me a lot of motivation … whether it’s to play for my son, or to play for the family, or playing for his diapers and formula,” Loh, an HSBC Global Brand Ambassador, told the Post.
“It is definitely more of a motivation than a distraction. Having my child to focus on away from badminton works for me.
