Badminton: It was hard work that set Kean Yew apart from the rest at an early age

GEORGE TOWN: Even as a small boy, Penang-born Loh Kean Yew already showed intelligence on the badminton court.

But it was pure hard work that set him apart from the rest at the badminton academy in Jalan La Salle, Ayer Itam then.

“Other players would attend training sessions three times a week, but this boy (Kean Yew) and his brother would come for nine sessions a week.

“His mother is key in his success, as she was the one who sent him for training, rain or shine.

“They rarely missed training, and that lasted for a few good years before the brothers moved to Singapore,” said Penang Badminton Association (PBA) president Datuk Kah Kau Kiak.

On Sunday, Kean Yew, 24, became the first Singaporean to win a badminton world championship, despite carrying an ankle injury.

The unseeded player stunned India's world number 14, Srikanth Kidambi 21-15, 22-20 in the men's singles final to clinch the BWF World Championship in Huelva, Spain.

Kah said Kean Yew and his brother Kean Hean, had benefited while training under the two Chinese coaches Li Mu and Chao Yue at the academy in Penang.

"I believe the Chinese coaches, who had brought in different kinds of training methods, laid the foundation for Kean Yew during his formative years," he said.

Kah said Kean Yew's best achievement in the junior scene was winning the 2009 National Junior Grand Prix Finals, beating current national number one, Lee Zii Jia in the Under-12 final.

"In another competition held in the northern region, Kean Yew also beat Zii Jia that year.

"I remember that well because I was the one who presented them with prizes during a simple presentation.

"Before that, Kean Yew would always lose to Zii Jia, who is a year younger. But a local coach gave us a few pointers in tweaking Kean Yew's game and that worked wonders.

"Besides Zii Jia, another of Kean Yew's childhood rivals was Cheam June Wei, who turned independent recently.

"They always finished top in the various age-groups badminton competitions here.

"I'll always remember Kean Yew as a boy who is smart and intelligent on the court, and polite off the court," he said.

In 2010, Kean Yew took up a scholarship with the Singapore Sports School to study and play badminton there.

He eventually took up citizenship and represented Singapore in 2015.

Meanwhile, Kean Yew's father Pin Keat, 59, was elated with his victory after watching the match with his family at his single-storey terrace house in George Town.

“Kelvin was often very unfortunate to face formidable opponents in the first round of many tournaments because he was not seeded.

"But in this tournament, he grew in confidence," said Pin Keat, who refers to Kean Yew as Kelvin at home.

“Finally, after all his hard work, it paid off. We’re very proud of Kelvin. To be honest, I was very nervous to watch the final," said Kean Yew's mother Grace Gan Saw Ai.

The couple were watching the live telecast together with their second son, Kean Wei, 30.

Kean Wei added: “My brother has improved a lot on his mental strength. I can see he is calm and composed, able to take the pressure now,” he told Buletin Mutiara.