May 5, 2025
SINGAPORE – Badminton doubles player Loh Kean Hean announced the end of his playing days on May 4, as he embarks on the next chapter of his career as a full-time coach.
The 30-year-old Singaporean, who won six bronzes at the SEA Games and a bronze at the Commonwealth Games, will shift his focus towards the running of the Elever Badminton academy, which he set up in 2023 with Eng Chin An.
“I think it’s a good time for me to leave, because for the past few years, I have been coaching on the side,” he said.
“And I discovered that I have the passion to coach, expose more children to badminton, bring the sport to the masses and build a vibrant badminton community.”
One of Singapore’s top doubles players, Loh spent 12 years with the national team since 2013 after moving from Penang in 2009 to study and play badminton.
He reached his highest world ranking of 22nd with partner Terry Hee, before the latter paired up with Jessica Tan for the mixed doubles in 2022.
While Loh has failed to make significant breakthroughs in recent years, he is grateful for the chance to have “walked this journey”.
“I don’t regret joining the national team and playing competitively. I have many fond memories and I’ve definitely enjoyed the time spent perfecting my craft as much as I can, as I have gained knowledge and life experience.
“Although some things didn’t turn out the way we expected them to, I have also learnt how to accept it and move on.”
He was speaking to The Straits Times on the sidelines of the presentation ceremony for the post-career gratuity payouts from the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) and local information technology solutions partner JK Technology at the KFF Badminton Arena at Guillemard on May 4.
Loh and Tan each received $100,000 while Crystal Wong collected $20,000 under the initiative aimed to provide financial security to national players after their playing careers.
In 2023, JK Technology pledged $500,000 on top of the SBA’s $1 million for the programme. The payouts, ranging from $16,000 to $100,000, are pegged to an athlete’s highest world ranking and the amount of time he or she represented Singapore.
His desire to go into coaching took root in 2021, when younger brother Kean Yew beat Srikanth Kidambi in the final of the 2021 world championships.
“In the lead-up to that final, families would stay home and order food delivery in order to support him when his match is on TV, that’s when I truly got inspired,” he said.
Hailing the gratuity payout, which will go towards the down payment of his new flat, Loh added: “This fund will ease my financial burdens (and allow us) to plan ahead. (It has) helped me become a better player and better person.”
Mixed doubles star Tan, 31, hung up her racket on April 11 and has accepted an offer to pursue a degree in sport management and coaching at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom.
She was also awarded the inaugural spexEducation Undergraduate Scholarship, which will sponsor her post-career undergraduate studies.
Women’s doubles player Wong, who retired in 2023, is a first-year business student at the Nanyang Technological University.
“Having the gratuity really is a bonus as there was no such thing when I came into the sport,” said the 25-year-old.
“It shows the appreciation for my efforts (and) I think it’s a good start for future players, so they’ll be more motivated to stay for the longer term.”
David Tan, SBA vice-president for business development and communications, said the gratuity will serve to “kick-start” the former players’ future plans after spending years in the sport.
He also revealed the SBA’s move to provide life-skills support for the national team players before they retire.
“I’m meeting every national team player one-to-one over the next 12 months to see what their ambitions are after they retire. And we want to help them start taking courses while they’re competing.”
The twelve student-athletes who received the JK Tech scholarship. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES
At the ceremony, 12 student-athletes also received scholarships under the long-term athlete development programme, with JKTech Foundation providing up to $100,000 per year to fund participation in competitions and access to support, infrastructure and coaches.
One of the recipients, national training squad player Aaliyah Zakaria, 18, said: “My family and I are indeed grateful for the help that SBA and JK Tech are giving us and I can’t wait to compete in more international competitions.”
The Ngee Ann Polytechnic student added: “My dream is to represent Singapore at the Olympic Games.”
- Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times.