Loh Kean Yew‘s 2025 Denmark Open challenge is over before it even really began after a first-round three-set defeat to Weng Hongyang 17–21 21–11 17–21.
The 2021 badminton world champion from Singapore, who has reached eight BWF World Tour quarter-finals or better this season, tasted a round of 32 exit on Wednesday (15 October) in his first career meeting against his Chinese opponent.
There was little to separate them on paper, Loh being ranked ninth in the world and Weng just two places lower at 11th.
Loh did not start well, with Weng taking the first seven points in a row to build up a comfortable advantage in the first game. From there, the Singaporean tried to get back into the game but never got closer than four points.
The second was close to start, the two men trading points and finding themselves level at 9–9. Weng took the next point but from there, the Chinese shuttler had no response as Loh rattled off 11 consecutive points to level the match.
And Loh extended the points streak to 15 in total by taking the first four of the deciding game before Weng found a foothold in the third. However, once Weng got going with a run of seven unanswered points of his own, Loh was on the back foot and never managed to close the gap.
Meanwhile, Anders Antonsen beat Anthony Ginting 21–7 21–19 and Viktor Axelsen eliminated fifth seed Chou Tien-chen 21–19 21–12 to ensure both Danes progressed in their home tournament.
Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie also advanced, winning a three-setter against Nishimoto Kenta 10–21 21–11 21–7.
Selected rounds of the Denmark Open are available to stream live Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app (territorial restrictions may apply).