Kunlavut kindles badminton medal hopes, routing China’s world No. 1

Thai badminton ace Kunlavut Vitidsarn caused a sensational upset in the badminton men’s singles quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics, knocking out world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China 21-12, 21-10 on Friday.

The 2023 world champion stunned the crowd at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena as he outmanoeuvred his heavily favoured Chinese rival. With his trademark defensive prowess and lightning-fast reflexes, Kunlavut forced the world No. 1 into a series of uncharacteristic errors.

Kunlavut set the tone in the first game, playing a solid defensive game while seizing decisive opportunities to attack. He quickly took an 8-6 lead and maintained dominance with precise placements, extending his advantage to 16-10. With a strong offensive display, Kunlavut wrapped up the first game convincingly 21-12.

In the second game, Kunlavut's dominance continued as he controlled the net and established an early 7-1 lead. He relentlessly pressured his opponent, forcing multiple errors and extending the lead to 11-1. The Thai unleashed a series of powerful attacks, securing the game 21-10 and the match.

The victory has ignited hopes for the Kingdom's first-ever medal in this sport. Twenty years ago, Boonsak Polsana came close to securing an Olympic medal in men's singles at the Athens Games, but ultimately fell short, losing the bronze medal match and finishing fourth.

“Today's game was tough. My opponent put a lot of pressure on me, and I felt it, but being the underdog helped me relax a bit. I gave it my all and managed to control the game from start to finish, trying to enjoy every moment. I might not have been at my best compared to before, but I played with joy,” said the 23-year-old, who faces world No. 3 Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the semi-final on Sunday.

“To win a medal, I know I need to do better. Every day is different, and tomorrow is a new challenge. My next opponent will be a top player, so I have to bring my best game. It's my first Olympics, and it's always tough.

“However, I'm still new to this level. I'll just do my best and enjoy the game. If possible, I want to win a medal."

The other Thai hope in badminton is Ratchanok Intanon, the 2008 quarter-finalist. She will play Indonesian Gregory Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia on Saturday.