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Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew ends title drought with Madrid Spain Masters win over Toma Junior Popov

SINGAPORE – As his 18-14 lead turned into an 18-19 deficit in the decider of the Madrid Spain Masters men’s singles final, Loh Kean Yew feared the worst.

In the past 27 months, he had reached five finals, winning none. It looked like history would repeat itself against Frenchman Toma Junior Popov, who had been unbeaten in 12 singles finals at the senior level.

But the Singaporean dug deep to end his 833-day wait for a first success since his 2021 badminton world title.

Fighting tooth and nail, the world No. 11 beat his 25th-ranked opponent 21-11, 15-21, 22-20 at the Centro Deportivo Municipal Gallur on March 31 for his third Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour crown.

Loh told The Straits Times: “The thought of winning did cross my mind when I was leading 18-14 in the decider but I kept trying to push it away because it was affecting me.

“When I was down 18-19, I feared the worst but still... stayed patient in the rally for the opportunity to kill. At the final point, I was really happy and relieved to have finally won another title.”

The US$210,000 (S$283,000) Super 300 event is on the fifth tier of the BWF World Tour, below the World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750 and Super 500 events.

Including major Games and lower-tier international tournaments, this is Loh’s ninth win in 20 finals.

Against Popov, he was at his explosive best at the start, unleashing smashes of over 400kmh, executing skilful changes in pace and direction, and displaying cat-like reflexes while defending against an opponent he had beaten in all four previous encounters. He took just 14 minutes to win the opener.

But, despite more than seven hours on court in Madrid, Popov, who also reached the men’s doubles semi-finals with his brother Christo, showed just why he has an impressive finals record. Maximising his 1.96m frame, the 25-year-old produced his own booming shots to level the tie as Loh struggled with the drift in the second game.

Loh looked nervy in the decider at first with an unsuccessful challenge, but found his range with a 461kmh smash and delicate drop shots to lead 11-7 at the interval.

Despite the defiant fightback from Popov, the 26-year-old kept his nerve in the mid-court battles to secure the elusive win on his second match point. Sliding on his knees, Loh let out a roar in relief and elation.

The victory, which comes with US$15,750 in prize money, will also earn Loh 7,000 points that could help him improve his world ranking and secure seeding at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Interestingly, Spain was where he became world champion on Dec 19, 2021 in Huelva. In Madrid, another former champion also triumphed, as Ratchanok Intanon beat fellow Thai Supanida Katethong 21-12, 21-9 in the women’s singles final.

With considerable attention on his title drought, Loh gave ST a glimpse of his mental toll, saying: “The dry spell hasn’t been easy and coach Kelvin Ho gave me an important wake-up call to improve on my fighting spirit after I lost in the first round of the Swiss Open.

“There have been times I felt really down and I don’t really know why. If I had the answers, I wouldn’t be struggling. I just kept going and trying to find ways to win. I may have ended my title drought now, but the count starts from zero again.

“It’s not just about the titles. Of course I want them, but it’s also about personal growth. Hopefully, this title gives me a confidence boost and I can build on it to be more consistent in my game play and processes.”

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam paid tribute to the champion and wrote in an Instagram post: “Competing at the top is extremely difficult. Kean Yew has managed his emotions, taken lessons from each setback, and believed in himself.”

Loh Kean Yew is back in form, and he is dazzling. His close-fought win this evening in the Madrid Spain Masters men’s... Posted by Tharman Shanmugaratnam on  Sunday, March 31, 2024

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also congratulated Loh in an Instagram post, saying: “Keep up the amazing work! We are all proud of you!”

Loh and his compatriots will now prepare for the April 9-14 Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China. In the first round, 2023 finalist Loh will meet Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto, while Yeo Jia Min plays Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong in the women’s singles. Mixed doubles duo Terry Hee and Jessica Tan take on Taiwanese Chang Ko-chi and Lee Chih-chen.

Coach Ho hopes that this title will give Loh “the assurance he needs regarding his capabilities”, adding: “Consistent effort and dedication will help him to stay focused on his journey to success and achieve his goals.”

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How Much Prize Money Is On Offer At The 2024 Spain Masters Badminton Tournament?

T he European leg of the BWF World Tour is in full swing. While some of the top shuttlers were seen in Madrid this week, many opted out of the ongoing tournament. However, the fact that the Spain Masters 2024 is an important badminton competition and comes with a decent prize money pool cannot be overlooked.

Held for the first time in 2018, this year marks the sixth edition of the Spain Masters. The tournament — officially known as the Madrid Spain Masters 2024 Iberdrola for sponsorship reasons — is organised by the Spanish Badminton Federation with sanction from the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Just like the recently concluded Swiss Open , the Spain Masters is a BWF World Tour Super 300 event.

Since its inception, the Spain Masters has been hosted by three different cities — Barcelona (2018 to 2020), Huelva (2021) and Madrid (2023-present). The 2022 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the first edition of the tournament in 2018, Danish badminton player Rasmus Gemke won the men’s singles event, while Japanese shuttler Minatsu Mitani was the champion in the women’s singles category. Currently, Kenta Nishimoto of Japan is the reigning champion in the men’s singles category, and Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung is the current champion in the women’s singles division.

Now that you are up to speed with the history of the competition, let us take a closer look at the 2024 Spain Masters prize money pot, the schedule and venue for the finals, and more.

A Close Look At The Richest Badminton Players In The World

Who are the richest male badminton players in the world, a breakdown of the prize money pool for the spain masters 2024.

Being a Super 300 tournament, the payouts at the Spain Masters rank among the scarcest in the BWF World Tour. Unlike marquee events like the All England Open , which is a part of the BWF 1000 Tour, the prize money purse is somewhat low.

According to a report by  Badminton World Tour , the total prize money pool for the Spain Masters 2024 badminton tournament is USD 210,000 (MYR 990,625 approx.) .

From this prize money pot, the champions in the men’s and women’s singles categories will be rewarded with USD 15,750 and 7,000 BWF points. The runners-up in both the singles categories will take home USD 7,980 and 5,950 BWF points.

The shuttlers who get ousted from the semi-finals in both categories will each receive USD 3,045 and 4,900 BWF points. On the other hand, the losing quarter-finalists in both the singles categories will pocket USD 1,260 and 3,850 BWF points each.

Similarly, the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles winners will take home USD 16,590 and 7,000 BWF points. The runners-up in all three doubles categories will be rewarded with USD 7,980 and 5,950 BWF points.

While the losing semi-finalists will each receive USD 2,940 and 4,900 BWF points, the players who bow out from the quarter-finals will each pocket USD 1,522.5 and 3,850 BWF points.

A look at the schedule and venue for the finals of the Spain Masters 2024

The Spain Masters 2024, which kick-started on Tuesday, 26 March, will draw to a close with the finals of all the categories on Sunday, 31 March. Much like the rest of the matches in the tournament, the finals will be contested at the Centro Deportivo Municipal Gallur in Madrid.

Where can you live stream the Spain Masters 2024 finals?

Badminton fans around the world can live stream the final matches of the Spain Masters 2024 on the BWF’s YouTube channel, BWF TV, the official global broadcaster for the tournament.

A Look At The Richest Female Badminton Players In The World

A look at the best malaysian badminton players of all time: lee chong wei, lee zii jia and more.

(Main and Featured Images Credits: BWF)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– How can I watch the Spain Masters matches live? 

You can live stream all the matches of the Spain Masters on the BWF’s official YouTube channel, BWF TV.

– Who are the best players to look out for at the Spain Masters?

Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, Lin Chun-yi of Chinese Taipei, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon and India’s P.V. Sindhu are among the top shuttlers at the Spain Masters 2024.

– Are there spectator tickets available for Spain Masters badminton matches?

Spectator tickets are available for the Spain Masters 2024 on the Ticketmaster website.

– What is the prize money for the Spain Masters doubles event? 

The winners of all three doubles categories at the Spain Masters 2024 will receive a prize money of USD 16,590.

– Which player has the most wins in the Spain Masters?

None of the players across all the categories have won the Spain Masters title more than once.

– What perks are available for the winners of the Spain Masters other than the prize money? 

In addition to the payouts, the winners of the Spain Masters will receive BWF points which will help to determine the year-end rankings.

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Follow our news, recent searches, being 'brave' pays off: singapore's loh kean yew ends two-year title drought, advertisement.

Singapore's Loh Kean Yew claimed his first Badminton World Federation (BWF) title in more than two years after beating France's Toma Junior Popov to win the Spain Masters.

Singapore badminton player Loh Kean Yew poses for a picture after his victory in the Spain Masters on Mar 31, 2024. (Photo: Facebook/Singapore Badminton Association)

This audio is AI-generated.

Matthew Mohan

SINGAPORE: As the clock ticked on and his opponent gained a foothold in the men's singles final of the Spain Masters, Singapore badminton player Loh Kean Yew told himself that he needed to be brave.

Down 19-18 in the third set against France's Toma Junior Popov, Loh dug deep to wrestle back control of the match.

"If you're not brave then you'll be passive, and you'll start to be slower," he told CNA after winning the title in Madrid on Sunday (Mar 31).

The Singaporean, who is ranked 11th in the world, took the tie 21-11, 15-21, 22-20.

This was more than just a routine win – it was Loh's first title since the 2021 World Championships.

Badminton: Singapore's Loh Kean Yew wins Spain Masters, first title since 2021 World Championships

IN FOCUS: From determined teen to badminton world champion - Loh Kean Yew's journey to the top

"I'm happy that I can finally get a title again," said Loh. "I'm just happy."

It has been a tough few years for the 26-year-old, dealing with the pressure of a world title win and the weight of expectations.

Since that momentous win in 2021, he has struggled in tournaments to take that final step to the top.

"Even if people don't say anything, I have my own expectations. Which athlete doesn't want to win?" he said.

"Whether it is pressure from others or myself, I obviously have that (pressure)."

DEALING WITH ISSUES

Before Madrid, Loh last won a tournament at  the World Championships in December 2021 , when he went on a fairytale run and upset a number of higher-ranked players, including  Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen.  

He is the only Singaporean to win a BWF World Championships title.

The 26-year-old made it to the finals of the  Korea Open in July 2023  and the Thailand Masters in February 2024, but fell to Denmark's Anders Antonsen and Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-chen respectively.

"Some parts were about trying to cope with the pressure, some parts were about trying to work on the consistency," Loh explained.

"Some parts were about trying to find myself, some parts were about trying to find confidence. There was a lot going on.

"It's not so straightforward that you lose today and you work on something and you win the next day."

Next up for Loh will be the Badminton Asia Championships in April, and the Singaporean will compete in the Paris Olympics later this year.

As these new challenges await, he will need to stick to his mantra and once again, be brave.

"I'm very, very thankful for the fans and supporters that have always been supporting me. This will never change," he said.

"There were a lot who were always still cheering me up and encouraging me to do better."

Toma Junior Popov 🇫🇷 brings his A-game against Loh Kean Yew 🇸🇬. #BWFWorldTour #SpainMasters2024 Posted by BWF — Badminton World Federation on  Sunday, March 31, 2024

LEADERS CONGRATULATE LOH

In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Loh on his hard-fought win.

"It has been an 883-day wait since Kean Yew’s last title, but the world number 11 has flown our flag high with his grit and perseverance. Keep up the amazing work! We are all proud of you," he said.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam wrote in an Instagram post: "He ... had the mental strength of a winner, when nerves were what mattered.

"Those of us who watched the game live on TV were literally at the edge of our seats when the score was tied at 20-20 in the final set - before he sealed it at 22-20."

He added: "Competing at the top is extremely difficult. Kean Yew has managed his emotions, taken lessons from each setback, and believed in himself.

"So today’s victory - which he marked with his clenched fists - was all the more sweet. For Kean Yew and for Team Singapore."

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Singapore shuttle ace Loh Kean Yew ends title drought with Madrid Spain Masters win

Monday, 01 Apr 2024

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Loh Kean Yew defeated Toma Junior Popov of France 21-11, 15-21, 22-20 to win the Madrid Spain Masters men's singles title. - PHOTO: EPA-EFE vis The Straits Times/ANN

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): As his 18-14 lead turned into an 18-19 deficit in the decider of the Madrid Spain Masters men’s singles final, Loh Kean Yew feared the worst.

In the past 27 months, he had reached five finals, winning none. It looked like history would repeat itself against Frenchman Toma Junior Popov, who had been unbeaten in 12 singles finals at the senior level.

But the Singaporean dug deep to end his 833-day wait for a first success since his 2021 badminton world title.

Fighting tooth and nail, the world No. 11 beat his 25th-ranked opponent 21-11, 15-21, 22-20 at the Centro Deportivo Municipal Gallur on March 31 for his third Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour crown.

Loh told The Straits Times: “The thought of winning did cross my mind when I was leading 18-14 in the decider but I kept trying to push it away because it was affecting me.

“When I was down 18-19, I feared the worst but still... stayed patient in the rally for the opportunity to kill. At the final point, I was really happy and relieved to have finally won another title.”

The US$210,000 (S$283,000) Super 300 event is on the fifth tier of the BWF World Tour, below the World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750 and Super 500 events.

Including major Games and lower-tier international tournaments, this is Loh’s ninth win in 20 finals.

Against Popov, he was at his explosive best at the start, unleashing smashes of over 400kmh, executing skilful changes in pace and direction, and displaying cat-like reflexes while defending against an opponent he had beaten in all four previous encounters. He took just 14 minutes to win the opener.

But, despite more than seven hours on court in Madrid, Popov, who also reached the men’s doubles semi-finals with his brother Christo, showed just why he has an impressive finals record. Maximising his 1.96m frame, the 25-year-old produced his own booming shots to level the tie as Loh struggled with the drift in the second game.

Loh looked nervy in the decider at first with an unsuccessful challenge, but found his range with a 461kmh smash and delicate drop shots to lead 11-7 at the interval.

Despite the defiant fightback from Popov, the 26-year-old kept his nerve in the mid-court battles to secure the elusive win on his second match point. Sliding on his knees, Loh let out a roar in relief and elation.

The victory, which comes with US$15,750 in prize money, will also earn Loh 7,000 points that could help him improve his world ranking and secure seeding at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Interestingly, Spain was where he became world champion on Dec 19, 2021 in Huelva. In Madrid, another former champion also triumphed, as Ratchanok Intanon beat fellow Thai Supanida Katethong 21-12, 21-9 in the women’s singles final.

With considerable attention on his title drought, Loh gave ST a glimpse of his mental toll, saying: “The dry spell hasn’t been easy and coach Kelvin Ho gave me an important wake-up call to improve on my fighting spirit after I lost in the first round of the Swiss Open.

“There have been times I felt really down and I don’t really know why. If I had the answers, I wouldn’t be struggling. I just kept going and trying to find ways to win. I may have ended my title drought now, but the count starts from zero again.

“It’s not just about the titles. Of course I want them, but it’s also about personal growth. Hopefully, this title gives me a confidence boost and I can build on it to be more consistent in my game play and processes.”

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam paid tribute to the champion and wrote in an Instagram post: “Competing at the top is extremely difficult. Kean Yew has managed his emotions, taken lessons from each setback, and believed in himself.”

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also congratulated Loh in an Instagram post, saying: “Keep up the amazing work! We are all proud of you!”

Loh and his compatriots will now prepare for the April 9-14 Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China. In the first round, 2023 finalist Loh will meet Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto, while Yeo Jia Min plays Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong in the women’s singles. Mixed doubles duo Terry Hee and Jessica Tan take on Taiwanese Chang Ko-chi and Lee Chih-chen.

Coach Ho hopes that this title will give Loh “the assurance he needs regarding his capabilities”, adding: “Consistent effort and dedication will help him to stay focused on his journey to success and achieve his goals.” - The Straits Times/ANN

Tags / Keywords: Singapore , Badminton , Loh Kean Yew , Madrid Spain Masters , Champion

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BWF Madrid Spain Masters 2024: Swashbuckling Loh Kean Yew grounds Toma Junior Popov in final thriller

The Singaporean star withstood his French opponent's powerful smashes to take the men's singles title in Madrid, with Ratchanok Intanon winning an all-Thai women's final.

Three words came to mind for Singapore's Loh Kean Yew as he fell to his knees to celebrate his gruelling men’s singles final triumph at the BWF Madrid Spain Masters 2024 on Sunday (31 March).

“Oh God, finally.”

That internal exclamation marked the finish of a three-game encounter with France’s Toma Junior Popov which saw Loh jump, skid and even splay out on the court, spurred on by the "The Pirates of the Caribbean" soundtrack blasting from the speakers at the Centro Deportivo Municipal Gallur.

The swashbuckling effort earned the 2021 badminton world champion his first title of the year, coming through 21-11, 15-21, 22-20 in 58 minutes of high-octane action.

“The [Olympic] qualification period has not ended and I'm quite happy that I managed to end off the Europe tour, a four-weeks long tour here, with a victory," Loh told Olympics.com. "Definitely happy.”

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Loh took the first game 21-11 with a signature series of jumps and smashes which unsettled his opponent.

“Jumping up is more threating than not jumping, so I try to jump more if I can,” he explained after.

In the second game, however, Popov showed that he had plenty of drive to respond in kind.

Playing in his first final for two years, the Frenchman proved he was more than a worthy match for Loh who had eliminated his younger brother, and doubles partner, Christo Popov in the round of 16.

With family honour at stake, Popov's smashes carried plenty of power. The 1.96m-tall player regularly sent the shuttle flying faster than 400 km/h, clinching the second game with a smash which registered 467 km/h.

“His smashing has always been very strong so it’s not easy to defend against him," Loh said. “The first game usually people can’t follow the speed, but second game, they are more used to it so there’s some strategy changes and I didn’t adapt fast enough.”

Loh did manage to adapt in the third game as he took an 11-7 lead into the mid-game interval.

Back came Popov who won five consecutive points to lead 19-18 in a thrilling climax. But Loh took the next two points before converting his second match point.

Ratchanok Intanon regains confidence after lacklustre post-injury comeback

Later in the day, Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon took the women’s singles final against compatriot Supanida Katethong .

The 29-year-old needed just 30 minutes to win 21-12, 21-9 and secure her first title since the Malaysia Open in July 2022.

It was a welcome confidence boost for Intanon who took time off after injuring her ankle last October. The 2013 world champion had struggled since, dropping from seven to 14 in the world rankings after first-round exits in her last three tournaments.

"I feel like I was ready to give up last week because I lost in the first round and I felt like, 'Why I still cannot go up?'" Intanon told Olympics.com. "I wanted to be back faster. So, why? I already did my hard work. Why am I still not at the spot where I want to be?

"I feel more confident now. I don't think that I'm the best, but I just had good form from the beginning," she added. "I enjoy when I play badminton. Sometimes when you lose, you are afraid to go inside the court because you don't want to lose anymore. But for me, I'm happy that I still listened to my thinking and I decided to come back."

Find all the results from the day's action here .

The latter stages of the tournament were streamed live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Paris 2024 Olympics app (territorial restrictions may apply). Check the page to re-watch the action.

BWF Madrid Spain Masters 2024 finals results, 31 March 2024

Mixed doubles: [6] Rinov Rinaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari (INA) def. Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi (CHN) 17-21, 21-12, 21-13.

Women's doubles: Iwanaga Rin/Nakanishi Kie (JPN) def. [2] Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi (INA) 12-21, 21-8, 21-16.

Men's singles: [2] Loh Kean Yew (SGP) def. Toma Junior Popov (FRA) 21-11, 15-21, 22-20.

Women's singles: [4] Ratchanok Intanon (THA) def. [6] Supanida Katethong (THA) 21-12, 21-9.

Men's doubles: Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani (INA) def. Junaidi Arif/Roy King Yap (MAS**)** 21-18, 17-21, 21-19.

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