Loh, the world number 13, is aiming to deliver Singapore's first Asiad gold in the sport.

Loke had previously announced his resignation in protest of the conditional royal pardon granted to former premier Najib Razak on Sep 18.

The early exits of defending champion Li Shifeng and Shi Yuqi are a rare blip in China’s badminton campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, though it secured medals in every other event.