- Team Singapore
TeamSG Legends & Athletes send tributes, in recognition of Badminton's new World Champion - Loh Kean Yew!
(TeamSG's Loh Kean Yew after winning his 1st World Championship title! Photo Credit : Badmintonphoto)
By Raj Kumar
On Loh Kean Yew's Instagram Page this morning (20 Dec), he posted : "Singapore, this is for you 🥇🇸🇬 😄! Only in my wildest dreams do I dare of this day — of a world champs medal, and of Singapore's first. Congratulations to all who competed at the world champs, and to Kidambi Srikanth, Anders Antonsen and Lakshya Sen for sharing the podium with me 🙏🏻
It's been the most incredible ride so far, and it only pushes me on to continue to work hard to be a better athlete. 💪🏼 I couldn't have achieved this without the help of many, and I would like to thank:
Singapore Badminton Association, Singapore Sport Institute, Lining, my coaches, teammates and training partners, physios and the sports medicine and science team, my family, friends and supporters — Thank you for believing in me and for being there for me. It means a lot to me to know that I am in good company in this journey. 🙏🏽
To the BWF, the organisers and volunteers of the world champs, the people in Huelva : Muchas Gracias for the hospitality and memories. 🥰 As always, I’m very proud to wear the 🇸🇬 flag here in Spain. Going to enjoy this moment for now, and also get some rest and recharge for the upcoming season. The work begins again soon. 😅
(TeamSG's Loh Kean Yew after winning his 1st World Championship title! Photo Credit : Badmintonphoto)
19 Dec 2021 will now have a special place in Singapore's sporting legacy! It was the day which the Republic joined the ranks of an elite group of nations, who've won the coveted Men's Singles World Championships crown, since the tournament's inception in 1977! This elite group includes Denmark, Indonesia, Japan and 13-time winners, China! And on the 26th edition of the biennial BWF World Championships in Huelva (Spain), SINGAPORE's been added to this exclusive list, all thanks to the phenomenal run of 24 year old, Loh Kean Yew.

(Singapore's 1st Olympic Gold Medallist, Joseph Schooling. Photo Credit : Joseph's Facebook Page)
Here's a List of Congratulatory Messages from Team Singapore Legends and Athletes :
Olympic Gold Medallist, JOSEPH SCHOOLING :
(Captain of Singapore's Men's Team, Hariss Harun. Photo Credit : Football Association of Singapore)
Captain, Singapore's National Football Squad, HARISS HARUN :
You fought like a Lion and created History!

1983 SEA Games Gold Medallist, Wong Shoon Keat.
It's coming to almost 40 years since we last saw a Singaporean win the SEA Games Badminton Gold medal in the Men's Singles. Kean Yew came close in 2019, but finished with the Silver medal instead.
1983 SEA Games Gold Medallist, WONG SHOON KEAT :


(TeamSG's 2021 World Bowling Champion, Shayna Ng. Photo Credit : Shayna's Facebook Page)
2021 World Bowling Champion, SHAYNA NG :
"I first met Kean Yew in 2019, when we were both invited by MCCY to catch the F1 night race in Singapore. We were the only two athletes there, so naturally we got to know each other better over food, drinks and some F1 action (like a first date 😅)
He was a young boy with great ambitions. Filled with zest and motivation. Little did I know that if we fast forward 2 years, he would be my fellow world champion buddy, and I couldn’t be more proud of him. He has brought Singapore to greater heights and I believe this is just the beginning of his very successful journey."
(TeamSG's 3-time Silat World Champion Sheik Farhan bin Sheik Alau-din. Photo Credit : PERSISI)
3-time World Champion and soon-to-be gunning for his 4th world title in 2022, SHEIK FARHAN :
(TeamSG's former Men's No 1 Shuttler, Ronald Susilo. Photo Credit : Ronald Susilo Badminton Academy Facebook Page)
TeamSG's former Men's No 1 Shuttler, RONALD SUSILO :

(TeamSG's former Men's No 1 Shuttler, Derek Wong. Photo Credit : Derek Wong Badminton Academy's Facebook Page)
TeamSG's former Men's No 1 Shuttler, DEREK WONG :
"Kean Yew has matured alot in his gameplay and built-up well in his long rallies learning from the Tokyo Olympics. Not only that, but he worked on converting his great defensive to offensive with master precision.

(Commonwealth Games Team Silver medallist, Kendrick Lee. Photo from Wiki)

Raj Kumar’s been in Singapore’s sports reporting and broadcasting scene since 1997. He was the former Sports Editor and Presenter on Power 98FM (SAFRA Radio) and 938LIVE (Mediacorp Radio). Over the years, he travelled to report on Team Singapore at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympiad, including 4 SEA Games cities. As a familiar voice and face on Radio, TV and online sports, he has produced and hosted more than 650 talkshows and programmes.