Thailand 2 land first major beach title

Wednesday saw Tanarattha Udomchavee and Varapatsorn Radarong capture the women’s crown for the hosts. It was the first major title for the Thailand 2 pair, who have triumphed previously with different partners. Last year, Tanarattha teamed up with Yupa Phokrongploy to claim the Batam Asian Tour title in Indonesia, while Varapatsorn partnered with Kamoltip Kulna to hand Thailand a gold medal in the SEA Games.

In the semi-finals, Tanarattha and Varapatsorn cruised past China 1’s Huang Ying and Ding Jingjing 21-15 21-15, while Kazakhstan 1’s Tatyana Mashkova and Irina Tsimbalova stunned Thailand 1’s former Asian Beach Games winners Jarunee Sannok and Usa Tenpaksee 21-13 16-21 15-13.

In Wednesday’s final, the Thai duo overwhelmed the defence of Mashkova and Tsimbalova to win 21-11 21-18 and pick up the trophy and US$2,200 victors’ cheque. 

The third-place play-off saw China 1’s Huang Ying and Ding Jingjing overpower Thailand 1’s Jarunee and Usa in a gruelling 21-16 18-21 15-11 win.

The men’s final was an all-Kazakh battle, with Alexandr Dyachenko and Alexey Sidorenko stamping their authority on lower-ranked Dmitriy Yakovlev and Alexey Kuleshov 21-15 21-16. Dyachenko and Sidorenko took home US$2,200 while Yakovlev and Kuleshov pocketed US$1,700.

New Zealand 1’s Sam and Ben O’Dea outclassed Malaysia’s Kiew Chiong Ung and Nordin Rafi Asruki 21-13 21-14 to finish third.

Teams are now heading to Songkhla for the 13th Samila-Chang Asian Tour Tournament, at Samila Beach from Saturday to Monday.