Loh Kean Yew overcomes Lee Cheuk Yiu to reach last 16 in New Delhi; three-game win from a game down

BWF World Championships 2026: Loh Kean Yew overcomes Lee Cheuk Yiu to reach last 16

The 2021 world champion kept his 2026 campaign alive with a hard-fought 64-minute three-game win over Lee, coming from a game down to seal victory.

Loh Kean Yew ’s march at badminton ’s 2026 BWF World Championships continues after the Singaporean won a tough three-game second-round duel on Wednesday (19 August).

The 2021 world champion beat Hong Kong, China’s Lee Cheuk Yiu 15-21, 21-17, 21-15 in an hour and four minutes, setting up a potential last-16 clash against his conqueror from 2025, Victor Lai .

Loh dropped the opener, having been level with Lee at 7-7 and again at 10-10. However, the unseeded Hongkonger pulled away from there.

It was all change in the second game as Loh tallied seven straight points to open. Although Lee pulled it back to as close as two points down at 17-19, the Singaporean saw out the game to level the match.

Another close decider saw the pair level at 8-8, although Loh would not give up the lead from there. Lee got within one point at 14-15 down but was unable to overcome the 13th seed, who completed victory.

It means Loh will play either Canada’s Lai – who eliminated him last year at the quarter-final stage – or Mark Shelley Alcala of the United States in the third round.

Third seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia is also into the round of 16, coming through his own three-game test against Loh’s compatriot Teh Jia Heng . Teh took the opener off Christie but the Indonesian eventually triumphed 19-21, 21-19, 21-11 and will play either Rasmus Gemke or Lin Chun-Yi next.

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Badminton | World Championships | New Delhi | India