In the second part of the interview, Singapore national team singles coach Kelvin Ho talks about the challenges facing world champion Luo Jianyou, how they plan to cope, and the impact of winning the World Championships on Singapore. (Read the previous part.)
What kind of personality does Luo Jianyou have in the game – does he need you to talk to him more after the game, or do you stay away from him and give him more space?
After the game, I will give him more space. We're (usually) in the same room, so whenever we eat or have free time, we talk about how to play the next game and what happened in the last game. We might discuss the focus of the game and the quality of each ball; "that's what makes you lose points", etc.
Loh Kean Yew during his winning campaign at the World Championships 2021.
You have known Luo Jianyou for a long time. What made him so different at the World Championships? It was as if he had been pressed a switch.
He feels motivated because he's played against a lot of top players lately. In Singapore, you don't get that many high-quality sparrings. So he's definitely going to give it his all, and he's very hungry for victory.
Did you surprise you at the way he persevered in Huelva?
yes. Because of the loss in a game against Zhou Tiancheng in Bali (before the World Championship), his playing style was interfered with, and when he wanted to play offense, he would have obstacles in his heart, and then he overcame it. Playing at this intensity in a short period of time, he adapted well.
So how do you see it from now on? He has achieved great things. But, in terms of stress and expectations, how will you cope from now on?
I think now, of course, Luo Jianyou will be under pressure. But compared to Arcelor, Kento Momota and indonesian players, he is still a weaker. We do have a lot to learn from these top players. So I don't think there's going to be much of a change in mindset. Luo Jianyou always said that you have to start from scratch again, fight all the way with the same mentality, and improve after each game.
Kelvin Ho and Loh Kean Yew.
In terms of style of play, it's an interesting time, with the top players having very different styles. What do you think of Luo Jianyou's style evolution? Are you trying to improve it, or are you just keeping it what it's been so far?
Luo Jianyou knew that more people would watch his game, but I think changing this style is like taking away his weapon. So I think we should keep that up, but at the same time we need to work in other areas to make his game more complete because like I said, when we play with a certain player, we need to apply a certain style, so we need to be more comprehensive to compete with everyone.
Now, what more can we expect from Luo Jianyou?
I would like to see the intensity he showed during the World Championships and the focus he showed on the pitch. At the same time, I'd like to see him stronger in other styles, with different strategies for different opponents, so it's not easy for any of his opponents.
How has your personal situation changed since he partnered you and won the World Championships?
It's nothing. Working hand in hand with the association to make sure that Luo Jianyou can continue to focus on his training and provide him with the best, I think that's the most important thing, so we shouldn't put too much pressure on him. We should continue to work hard for his game to make it more comprehensive. That's the most important thing.
Kean Yew at his attacking best.
Will Singaporean interest in badminton increase significantly?
There are definitely more local children playing badminton because of Luo Jianyou. That's the biggest difference. So now everyone wants to play badminton!
Finally, this must also be an important moment for you. How much satisfaction and confidence did you gain from your success in December? What does this mean for your future?
Yes, I'm happy. I never dreamed of winning the World Championship. But by seeing the experiences of all these world-class players, I hope to pass on the knowledge to other players in Singapore and make them more eager to succeed. Of course, with the experience I gained in international competitions, I was able to share knowledge and build a team in Singapore, allowing more players to participate in international competitions.
I think we still have a lot to learn because our players still need to grow.
Watch Singapore play Against Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand in Group A of the Thomas Cup in Bangkok (8-15 May) in the 2022 Total Energy Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals.