Anna 
Singapore’s 2021 badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew and two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen both secured victories on Wednesday, February 26, at the 2025 BWF German Open in Mülheim.
Loh defeated France’s Arnaud Merkle 21-13, 21-16, while Axelsen triumphed over Japan’s Hatano Riku 20-22, 21-16, 21-9, advancing both players to the round of 16.
Loh started strong, easily winning the first game 21-13 without trailing at any point. However, the second game saw some drama as Loh fell behind 12-16. Despite the deficit, he rallied with four straight points to close the gap. The two players exchanged points before Loh sealed the match.
Axelsen had a tougher start. In the first game, he initially led 6-5, but Hatano rallied with five consecutive points to take the game 22-20. Axelsen fought back in the second, where he regained control after a 15-12 lead. Despite a late push from Hatano, Axelsen won 21-16 to set up a decisive third game. In the final game, Axelsen dominated, finishing strong with a 21-9 win.
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