Badminton: Yeo Jia Min progresses to knockout stages at Paris Olympics, first Singaporean to do so since 2012

PARIS: Yeo Jia Min may not be one to focus on records, but she notched a noteworthy milestone on Tuesday (Jul 30) by becoming the first Singaporean badminton player to reach the knockout stages at the Olympic Games in more than a decade.

At the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, the world number 20 dispatched Mauritius' world ranked 93rd Kate Foo Kune 21-12, 21-6 in just 26 minutes.

"I don't really follow the records but I'm very honoured to be representing Singapore at this big stage and I will continue to give 100 per cent," she told reporters.

This was the 25-year-old's second win at the Paris Olympics after she cruised past Iran-born Dorsa Yavarivafa of the Refugee Olympic team on Saturday. Both victories meant that she topped her group.

This is Yeo's second Olympics appearance - she was eliminated in the group stages in Tokyo three years ago.

"Every day is a blessing. Getting back from injuries - prior to this I was injured - and day by day taking all the positives and growing as a person. I think this journey has been very valuable," she said.

"No matter what, I will cherish every moment and I'm happy that this time I'm able to do better (than at the last Games)."

The Singaporean will likely next face Japan's world number 10 Aya Ohori, an opponent she has never beaten.

"Anything can happen," said Yeo. "I just hope to play freely on court, and give my best with no regrets."

The last Singaporean to reach the knockout stages of the badminton competition at a Games was women's Gu Juan in 2012.

Singapore's top men's singles player Loh Kean Yew also remains in the running to reach the knockout stages. 

Loh, who beat Czech Republic's Jan Louda on Sunday will take on El Salvador’s Uriel Canjura on Wednesday.