Thai pair lose in badminton
Thailand's last hope in the China Open Super Series Premier Badminton Championships in Shanghai was snuffed out yesterday when the Kingdom's mixed doubles pair lost in the semi-finals.
Songphon Anugritayawan and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul, the world No 8 and seventh seeds – and the only two Thais left in the star-studded tournament – were defeated by world No 3 and third seeds Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen of Denmark.
The Thais put up a brave fight against their rivals, who won the French Open, Denmark Open and Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold this year, but lost 21-18 21-14.
The victory improved the Danes head-to-head record against the Thais to 2-2. Nielsen and Pedersen went down to the Thai pair twice in 2008, at the Japan Open Super Series and also at the Korea Super Series. They beat Songphon and Kunchala at the 2008 Thailand Grand Prix Gold.
In the quarter-finals on Friday night, the Danes thrashed Thai players Maneepong Jongjit and Savitree Amitapai, 21-17 21-15.
Meanwhile, teen sensation Ratchanok Inthanon, the world No 14 who has won the World Junior Championships three times in succession, lost to Chinese Li Xuerui in three games 16-21 21-13 21-7 in the quarter-finals.
The 16-year-old, fresh from taking bronze at the recent 26th SEA Games in Indonesia, had stunned top seed and world No 2 Wang Shixian in straight games 21-18 21-19 in the third round on Thursday.
