By Aimi G.
How many fans turned up to welcome the return of the newly crowned Thailand Masters champion Jason Teh?
A Straits Times photo only showed two officials from the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) at the airport on 3 February, unfortunately.
SBA president Lawrence Leow was among those at the airport, greeting Teh and Vega Nirwandawas – his sparring partner and on-site coach.
Teh defeated China’s Wang Zhengxing 21-18, 15-21, 21-19 at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok to claim his first finals win at the US$240,000 (S$325,000) Super 300 event.
The 24-year-old, who had fallen short in seven previous finals, shattered his title drought at the Thailand Masters on 2 February.
He had to battle past Israel’s world No. 64 Misha Zilberman, Indonesia’s 159th-ranked Zaki Ubaidillah, South Korea’s world No. 35 Jeon Hyeok-jin and Ireland’s 42nd-ranked Nhat Nguyen.
With only seven days of rest, he will soon head to Qingdao, China, for the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship from 11 to 16 February.
He will then embark on the European swing of the Badminton World Federation World Tour—ready to smash his way through the competition.
MAIN PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES