March 3, 2025
SINGAPORE – For over five years, Yeo Jia Min struggled with heartbreaking defeats, including at the 2021 Hylo Open final and Paris 2024 Olympics last-16 match, when she failed to convert a match point.
On March 2, the 26-year-old Singaporean unleashed a roar of relief as she finally ended a 66-month wait for a Badminton World Federation World Tour title.
She took 41 minutes to beat Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Linh 21-16, 21-17 in the women’s singles final of the Super 300 German Open for her first World Tour title since the 2019 Hyderabad Open, and the biggest triumph of her career so far.
After picking up a cheque for US$18,000 (S$24,300), she told The Straits Times: “This title means a lot to me. I’ve gone through so many losses and setbacks that this victory becomes even sweeter.
“The struggle has been a long one but I kept believing that I can do it, and I’m grateful for (national singles) coach Kim (Ji-hyun) to guide me along the way.
“She has been helping me to prepare tactically and mentally before every match. Along the way, she’s also making adjustments to help me improve. The results may not be immediate because some changes need a process, but we are working towards it.”
Yeo, who has also relied on self-talk to remind herself to be calmer and more focused, has definitely shown positive signs.
After winning the lower-tier Polish Open in 2023, Yeo beat four top-10 players the following year in South Korea’s An Se-young, Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, China’s Han Yue and Indonesian Gregoria Tunjung, and ended her winless run against India’s 2019 world champion P. V. Sindhu.
The world No. 13 has carried over her fine form to 2025 with quarter-final appearances at the Super 1000 Malaysia Open and Super 750 India Open, before claiming her third World Tour title and fifth international title at the Westenergie Sporthalle in Mulheim.
Yeo made a quick start, stamping her authority with some good disguise and drop shots to take a 9-2 lead. World No. 29 Thuy Linh tried to smash her way back, but was often dragged out of position by crafty shot placements from the Singaporean, who managed to stay at least two points ahead en route to taking the opening game.
The quality and angles of some of Yeo’s shots in the second game left the Vietnamese confounded as she built on an 11-6 lead at the interval to earn five match points before clinching the championship on her third when Thuy Linh dumped a backhand into the net.
The victory has given her the belief to aim for more titles and break into the top 10 for the first time.
The former junior world No. 1 said: “The ability to adapt to any player and any situation is key, and I know I have to be consistent every day in order to win titles.”
Meanwhile, compatriot Loh Kean Yew will also take away positives from the US$240,000 event despite losing 21-19, 21-18 in the men’s singles final against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, who extends his head-to-head superiority to 11-2.
The Singaporean world No. 15 raised hopes of an upset when he turned 0-2 and 13-16 deficits into 8-3 and 18-16 leads respectively by being patient yet aggressive, but a clinical Axelsen took the first game.
The two-time Olympic champion and world No. 4 then raced to a 20-10 lead in the second game, and the gap was too big for Loh to surmount despite saving eight match points as he settled for second place and US$9,120 prize money.
Axelsen praised his opponent for being “an amazing player” who played “a good tournament”, while Loh said: “I think I put on quite a good show this week. We know each other’s game quite well so it was a tough battle physically and mentally. It’s always tough and he played a good game, so credit to him.
“I would love to work on myself physically and mentally. I need to rest and recover first. Tomorrow is a travel day and I will start from zero for the (March 4-9) Orleans Masters, a new tournament with new opponents.”
Singapore Badminton Association president Lawrence Leow lauded Yeo and Loh’s efforts, and attributed their success ahead of SG60 to their support team comprising their parents, coaches, teammates and administrators over the years.
Kim said: “Jia Min moved fast today and was attacking at the right moments. However, we have to improve on more variations at the net.
“As for Kean Yew, even though he lost today, he has improved a lot, especially in his net control. Together, we are working hard until he becomes a champion again. It’s still a long way to the top for our players, but I believe we can get there.”
- David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis.