Singapore badminton body to pivot towards youth after SEA Games disappointment

A disappointing SEA Games campaign in Thailand has prompted soul-searching within the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA). The team missed its target of four medals – including ambitions for two singles golds – and returned with only two bronze medals from the men’s and women’s team events. 

Officials described the outcome, which was a drop from the three bronze medals won in 2023, as a stark reminder of the rapid improvement among regional competitors. 

Indonesia, in particular, arrived exceptionally well prepared, sweeping all the men’s gold medals and finishing on the podium in the women’s and team events. 

“Indonesia has a great pipeline of athletes who are ready to take on the world’s best,” said SBA’s head of pathways and performance Vanessa Neo on Saturday (Dec 13). 

“Unfortunately, the result (for Singapore) is as it is, so it’s really for us to take back what we didn’t do well and then work on it.”


LOH’S EARLY EXIT HIGHLIGHTS PREPARATION ISSUES 

Before the Games, expectations rested heavily on world No. 10 Loh Kean Yew to end Singapore’s 14-year wait for a SEA Games badminton gold. With Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn absent from the men’s singles, Loh entered as the top seed and clear favourite. 

However, one of the biggest shocks of the tournament saw Loh eliminated in the quarter-finals, losing in straight games to Indonesia’s world No. 48 Zaki Ubaidillah on Friday. 

Neo admitted that more could have been done in preparation behind the scenes. She pointed out that playing against unfamiliar and younger opponents – Ubaidillah is only 19 – poses a different psychological challenge compared to facing established top-ranked players on the regular tour. 

“Kean Yew gave his best, and there are still some shortcomings that need to be worked on with the coaches. We have to do more analytical work on players not only in the top 20, but further down the line,” she told CNA. 

WOMEN’S SINGLES SETBACK 

Singapore also suffered a blow in women’s singles after top player Yeo Jia Min withdrew due to a hamstring injury. She was rested during the team events in hopes of recovering for the singles draw, but her condition failed to improve in time. 

Stand-in Insyirah Khan was eliminated in the opening round, along with teammate Jaslyn Hooi. 

Despite these setbacks, Neo noted that the senior players still played a key role in mentoring the younger shuttlers throughout the competition. 

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TAKES CENTRE STAGE 

With Loh and Yeo leading Singapore’s singles charge for several years, the SEA Games outcome has once again raised concerns about the team’s reliance on the pair. Neo acknowledged that Singapore needs to broaden its pool of elite players. 

“It's true they have been our leading singles (players) for some time. We really need to strengthen the whole ecosystem, the whole badminton fraternity,” she said.

"It's (time) to really work on the development of athletes, probably shifting the focus to more of the youth and juniors, to ensure there's a steady pipeline for the next SEA Games and beyond.” 

Plans include closer collaboration with regional training centres and private academies, alongside improvements to coaching standards to support consistent athlete progression. Neo added that the 2029 SEA Games will be especially significant as Singapore prepares to host the event, while the Asian Games next September will also present a major test. 

“Ultimately, it is a whole-nation effort – from grassroots to high performance – to really build a strong and sustainable pipeline,” she said.