SINGAPORE: As the clock ticked on and his opponent gained a foothold in the men's singles final of the Spain Masters, Singapore badminton player Loh Kean Yew told himself that he needed to be brave.

Down 19-18 in the third set against France's Toma Junior Popov, Loh dug deep to wrestle back control of the match.

"If you're not brave then you'll be passive, and you'll start to be slower," he told CNA after winning the title in Madrid on Sunday (Mar 31).