Singapore's Loh Kean Yew exits BWF World Championships after round of 16 loss to Canada's Victor Lai

Singapore's top badminton player, Loh Kean Yew, has been eliminated from the BWF World Championships after a challenging round of 16 match against Canada's Victor Lai. The defeat, which mirrored Loh's exit at the same stage last year, saw the world number 13 fall to the rapidly ascending Lai, now ranked seventh globally.

The match, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, concluded with Lai securing a 20-22, 18-21 victory in 52 minutes. Lai's consistent play and patient strategy initially frustrated the former world champion Loh. Despite a mid-game comeback by Loh, who rallied from a 5-11 deficit to lead 16-12, crucial errors allowed Lai to regain control and clinch the first game.

The second game remained tight in the early stages, with both players exchanging points. Loh managed to build a lead, but again, unforced errors proved costly. Lai capitalized on these opportunities, seizing momentum and ultimately securing the match and a spot in the quarter-finals.

Lai's impressive performance continues his strong year, which included a win at the Super 1000 Indonesia Open in June. He will now face either Indonesia's Jonatan Christie or Denmark's Rasmus Gemke in the next round. Meanwhile, Loh's best result this season has been a final appearance at the Super 750 Singapore Open.