Loh Kean Yew Wins Spain Masters, Arif Junaidi/Yap Roy King Secure Second Place

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Loh Kean Yew poses with Toma Junior Popov during the 2024 Spain Masters award ceremony. (Photo: BWF)
Loh Kean Yew poses with Toma Junior Popov during the 2024 Spain Masters award ceremony. (Photo: BWF)

Madrid: Singapore’s World No. 11 Loh Kean Yew emerged victorious at the 2024 Spain Masters, defeating French rising star World No. 25 Toma Junior Popov in a nail-biting men’s singles final. Meanwhile, the Malaysian pairing of Wan Arif Junaidi and Yap Roy King secured a well-deserved runner-up finish in the men’s doubles event.

Highlights of Loh Kean Yew vs. Toma Junior Popov in the 2024 Spain Masters final:

Loh displayed his tactical prowess and mental fortitude throughout the tournament. The final against Popov was a rollercoaster ride, with both players showcasing their attacking skills. Loh dominated the first set 21-11, but Popov bounced back in the second, pushing the Singaporean to a 15-21 defeat. The deciding set was a tense affair, but Loh held his nerve, eventually edging past Popov 22-20 to claim the Spain Masters title.

Loh dropped to his knees in celebration after scoring the match point.

This was Loh’s first international title since becoming world champion in December 2021. Coincidentally, the 2021 World Badminton Championships were also held in Spain (Huelva).

In the men’s doubles category, the unseeded Malaysian duo of Arif Junaidi/Yap Roy King fell short in the finals against Indonesia’s World No. 34 Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, losing in a close three-set battle 18-21, 21-17, 19-21.

Highlights of Arif Junaidi and Yap Roy King vs. Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in the 2024 Spain Masters final:

Junaidi expressed his delight with their performance: “We’re happy with reaching the finals, especially considering this is only our second tournament back together. Roy King’s recovery is going well, and this result is a big confidence boost for us moving forward.”

In the women’s singles final, former world champion Ratchanok defeated her compatriot Supanida Katethong 21-12, 21-9, maintaining her unbeaten record (6 wins, 0 losses) in international matches against Katethong.

This win also ended Ratchanok’s two-year title drought, with her last victory being the Malaysia Super 750 tournament in June 2022.

The women’s doubles final was contested between the top two seeds, with Japan’s top-seeded pair
Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi overcame Indonesia’s second-seeded pair Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi with scores of 21-12, 8-21, 21-16, securing their first title of the year.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s mixed doubles pair Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari overturned China’s Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi in the final with scores of 17-21, 21-12, 21-13 for the Spain Masters title.

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