Loh Kean Yew is in the KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2026 semifinals for the first time in his career, and the Singapore Indoor Stadium has not seen scenes like this in years. The home favourite defeated Chi Yu-jen of Chinese Taipei 16-21, 21-6, 21-8 in the quarterfinals on Friday, 29 May, to set up a Loh Kean Yew Singapore Open 2026 semifinal showdown against Japan’s Watanabe Koki. A maiden Singapore Open final is within touching distance.
Loh Kean Yew Battles Back to Make Singapore Open 2026 Semifinal History
It could have unravelled after that first game. Chi Yu-jen, fresh from winning the All England Championships in March, took the opener 21-16 with purpose and authority, making the Singapore indoor stadium rather quiet. But Loh is built differently on his home court. Something shifted.
The second game was a demolition — 21-6, controlled and dominant. The third completed the comeback 21-8, and by the time the final shuttle fell, the Singapore Indoor Stadium erupted. Loh punched the air; the crowd roared. The Singapore Badminton Association captured the moment perfectly on their official channels: “The crowd’s favourite delivers!”
“I’m happy. It makes it even more meaningful to win a Super 750 quarterfinal in Singapore,” Loh said after the match. “I’m just going to prepare myself the best for the semis.”
This is the deepest run Loh has ever made at his home tournament. A player who won the world title in 2021 has, somehow, never before reached the last four here — until now. This is new territory, and he is embracing every moment.
Earlier in the week, Loh also saw off India’s HS Prannoy on Day 3 in another rousing home performance.
Watanabe Koki — The Japanese Danger Man in Loh’s Way
Watanabe Koki is not a soft draw. The Japanese shuttler came through his own quarter-final in fine form, defeating India’s Lakshya Sen in three games to book his semifinal spot. Sen had been one of the tournament favourites; Watanabe brushed him aside without fuss.
Watanabe is a consistent, intelligent player who rarely gives opponents anything for free. His game is built on positioning, deception and patience — qualities that make him dangerous on any surface, in any conditions. That said, Loh knows his game well, and the Singapore Indoor Stadium crowd will be worth a few extra points on their own.
The head-to-head history between the pair favours Loh — they have met regularly on tour, and the Singaporean has generally had the better of the exchanges. If Loh can replicate the controlled aggression he showed in the quarterfinal, he has everything he needs to reach his first Singapore Open final.
The Full KFF Singapore Open 2026 Semifinals Lineup
It is not just Loh generating excitement at the Singapore Indoor Stadium this Saturday. The mixed doubles semifinals produce a mouthwatering contest: Japanese pair Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara, the world No.18s who pulled off arguably the upset of the tournament by beating second-seeded Thai defending champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran in a 69-minute thriller (21-19, 21-23, 21-16), now face Indians Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto. The Indian pair progressed after Singapore’s Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei were forced to retire when Toh suffered a knee injury — a gutting end to what had been a superb run by the home pair.
The men’s doubles also delivers. Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri defeated Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin 21-18, 10-21, 21-14 to advance. Their opponents in the semifinals will provide another tough test. On the women’s singles side, Korea’s world No.1 An Se-young — who beat India’s PV Sindhu in the quarterfinals — continues her bid for the title.
For fans attending today’s session, An Se-young will also hold a meet-and-greet at Kallang Wave Mall atrium after her match.
Can Loh Kean Yew Become Singapore’s First Home Super 750 Champion?
The question has hung in the air for years, and today it feels closer than ever to being answered. Singapore has a rich badminton history — Loh’s own 2021 world title is proof of the talent this island produces — but a homegrown champion at the Singapore Open itself has remained elusive.
The form is there. Loh is playing with a freedom and authority that comes from being on home soil. The crowd is with him at every point. And the draw has opened up in his favour after some early upsets.
If Loh beats Watanabe today and goes on to win Sunday’s final, it would be one of the most celebrated sporting moments Singapore has seen in years. The atmosphere at the Singapore Indoor Stadium will be electric. Do not miss it.
The KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2026 runs through Sunday 31 May, with the men’s and women’s singles finals on the final day. Follow all the action with LBRD Sports.
