The Penang-born Loh beat Momota 21-7, 17-21, 21-19 on the resort island of Bali, where last week the Japanese star claimed the Indonesia Masters title – the first of three back-to-back competitions culminating in the season-ending World Tour Finals.

Momota lost the first game before forcing Loh into a rubber set after winning the second game.

The Japanese player dominated the first half of the third game, but Loh regained control and won to secure a quarterfinal spot tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Olympic gold medallist Viktor Axelsen advanced to the quarterfinals after beating India’s Srikanth Kidambi 21-14, 21-18 in a 37-minute game.

Axelsen will meet India’s Bhamidipati Sai Praneeth tomorrow, while Loh will play Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus from Denmark.

Badminton World Tour events in Indonesia are usually played in the capital Jakarta, but organisers opted for Bali which has been badly affected by the loss of visitors during the pandemic.

The tournaments are being held without fans in a Covid-secure bubble.