Ningbo, China (April 11, 2025) – In a stunning quarter-final upset at the Badminton Asia Championships, Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew defeated China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi in three games (21-19, 13-21, 21-16). The former world champion’s victory over the top-seeded home favorite sent shockwaves through the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium and propelled Loh into the tournament’s semi-finals.
Top seed toppled on home soil
Coming into Friday’s match, Shi Yuqi was the clear favorite. The 27-year-old Chinese star had recently ascended to the pinnacle of the world rankings, ending Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen’s 132-week reign at No.1 in mid-2024. Shi, the reigning All England Open champion and top seed in Ningbo, was bidding to become the first Chinese men’s singles champion at the Asian meet since 2017.
Loh Kean Yew, by contrast, entered as the 8th seed and world No.17. Despite being the 2021 world champion, the 27-year-old Loh was viewed as an underdog given his lower ranking and recent mixed form on tour. In fact, Shi had beaten Loh in their last encounter just weeks ago at the All England quarter-finals, and boasted a 4-2 head-to-head edge before this match. Even Loh acknowledged before the clash that Shi was “in excellent form and high on confidence” after his All England triumph, vowing that he would be “well prepared” for a tough battle.
What unfolded was a high-intensity roller-coaster battle that lived up to the anticipation.
In the opening game, Loh started confidently, racing to an early lead, but Shi fought back to hold a slim 11-10 advantage at the mid-game interval. Urged on by a partisan home crowd, the Chinese shuttler looked to impose himself.
However, a late flurry of errors from Shi allowed Loh to seize the momentum — the Singaporean capitalized and clinched the first game 21-19. The normally reserved Loh celebrated the one-game lead with a quiet fist pump, while the crowd murmured in surprise at the top seed dropping a game.
The second game saw a rejuvenated Shi Yuqi storm back. Showing why he’s the world No.1, Shi came out aggressively and cranked up the tempo, blitzing to an 11-1 lead within minutes. He attacked with ferocity and pinned Loh to the back of the court repeatedly. Loh tried to adjust and did narrow the gap after the interval, but the deficit was too large to overcome. Shi sealed the second game 21-13 with a roaring smash, drawing loud cheers of relief from the Chinese supporters. The match was leveled at one game apiece, setting the stage for a decisive finale.
In the deciding game, it was Loh Kean Yew who made the sharper start. Displaying the speed and precision that once made him a world champion, the Singaporean leapt to an 11-3 lead at the change of ends. Shi, looking increasingly fatigued, dug deep to mount a comeback. As the crowd rallied behind their local hero, Shi gradually inched closer, at one point closing the score to just 13-16 and then 16-19. The atmosphere was tense with anticipation as the Chinese player threatened to erase Loh’s lead. But Loh remained composed, mixing explosive smashes with lightning-quick defense.
Showing tremendous resilience, he weathered the storm of Shi’s late surge. At 20-16, Loh earned a match point and did not falter – an unreturnable cross-court smash ended the contest. The arena momentarily fell silent as the upset was complete before applause broke out in recognition of Loh’s achievement. The entire duel lasted 67 minutes of pulsating action, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Reaction to a thrilling upset
Loh Kean Yew’s stunning victory marked his first win over Shi Yuqi since October 2023.
“His speed is very fast, and his attack is very pressuring. Tomorrow’s match may be very tough, but I will fight for every point and not give up,” Shi had said of Loh a day earlier.
Indeed, the Chinese ace knew the threat Loh posed. But on this day, it was Loh’s determination that shone through. As the match ended, Loh let out a jubilant yell and pumped his fist in triumph – a rare show of emotion for the usually calm shuttler. On the other side of the net, a disappointed Shi Yuqi managed a polite wave to the home crowd before exiting, his title hopes dashed.
Fans and analysts were quick to react to the result.
Social media buzzed with discussions of the upset, with many fans calling it one of the biggest surprises of the badminton season so far. In Singapore, supporters woke up to the news of Loh’s win and flooded the comments of the National Badminton Association’s posts with congratulatory messages.
“What an incredible performance by Loh Kean Yew!” one fan wrote, with others praising the Singaporean for “bringing down a giant on his home ground.”
Even neutral observers lauded the quality of the match and Loh’s tenacity.
“To beat the world No.1 in China – that takes something special,” an analyst commented on a live badminton forum, noting the mental toughness required.
The Badminton World Federation’s official channels also highlighted the result, dubbing it the upset of the day at the Asian Championships.
For Shi Yuqi, the shock defeat was a rare stumble in what has been a strong season. The Chinese player had been in red-hot form, winning the Malaysia Open in January and the prestigious All England Open in March. His loss on home soil not only stunned the home fans but also ended China’s hopes of a men’s singles champion at this Asian meet this year.
Local media noted that Shi’s defeat meant China’s long wait for a continental men’s singles title would continue, as he was seen as the country’s best hope to break the drought since 2017.
Loh’s resurgence and road ahead
For Loh Kean Yew, this victory is more than just a semi-final berth – it is a statement that he is back to his best against the world’s elite. The 2021 world champion has struggled to find title-winning form in recent years and has not clinched a tournament victory since his world championship triumph. However, 2025 has shown promise for him; just last month, Loh reached the final of the German Open, where he finished runner-up to Axelsen. His confidence appeared to be growing, and defeating the world No. 1 on a big stage could be a turning point. “The past few months, I’ve been working on my consistency and self-belief,” Loh said in an earlier interview, and those efforts were evident in his composed performance. By taking down a top player like Shi, Loh has proven that his speed and attacking prowess can still trouble the game’s best – a fact even Shi himself acknowledged before their match.
The win also guarantees Loh at least a bronze medal in the Asian Championships, adding to the silver medal he earned in last year’s edition. It further solidifies his status as one of Singapore’s sporting icons. Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth offered congratulations on social media, praising Loh’s fighting spirit and calling the win “an inspiration to all Singaporeans.”
The Singapore Badminton Association also hailed the result as “historic,” noting that Loh is the nation’s sole representative left in the competition and has once again put Singapore on the badminton map.
Looking ahead to the semi-finals, Loh Kean Yew will face another daunting hurdle. He is set to meet Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the world No. 3 and tournament third seed, for a spot in the final. Vitidsarn, the 22-year-old rising star and reigning world champion, holds a dominant 6-1 head-to-head record against Loh.
In fact, Loh has not beaten the Thai player in nearly ten years.
“It doesn’t get any easier from here,” one commentator noted about Loh’s next match, referring to Vitidsarn’s strong form. Still, with momentum on his side and confidence sky-high, Loh will fancy his chances of continuing this dream run. The upset of the top seed has injected new excitement into the tournament – and given Loh Kean Yew a golden opportunity to fight for the Asian crown.
As the Daily Motivation News team witnessed in Ningbo, Loh Kean Yew’s never-say-die attitude and tactical brilliance have reignited his championship ambitions. His surprise victory over Shi Yuqi is not only a highlight of this tournament but also a reminder of the unpredictable magic of sport. Loh’s journey isn’t over yet; with the badminton world watching, he now moves one step closer to what would be a fairy-tale title.
All eyes will be on the semi-final showdown, to see if the Singaporean underdog can continue to defy the odds and inspire fans with another electrifying performance.
