Thai players enjoy double success

The men’s doubles pairing of Bodin Issara and Maneepong Jongjit defeated Indonesia’s Yohanes Rendy Sugiarto and Afiat Yuris Wirawan 19-21 21-14 21-11. It was their second title of the year after enjoying success at the Indian Open.

Three Thai players had entered the semi-finals of the women’s singles competition but only Porntip survived. Lindaweni stunned fourth-seed Sapsiree Taerattanachai 15-21 21-16 21-16 while Porntip powered past countrywoman Busanan Ongbumrungpan 21-13 18-21 21-16.

Porntip had beaten the world No 74 Lindaweni on both the occasions they met. The Thai, who beat the Indonesian in the Uber Cup preliminaries this year, had reached the semi-final of the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold, which was her best performance so far.

Bodin and Maneepong told The Nation that they were desperate to win the title. “In the first game we put ourselves under pressure because we wanted to win so badly. So we calmed down and played our game in the second and wrapped it up pretty comfortably. In the decider we took complete control of the match. Overall we tried to move them around and create smashing opportunities.”

Thailand fielded more than 20 players, many of them youngsters, in the tournament with the hope of giving them international exposure. The Thai badminton squad, which left Vietnam last night, will have a two-week training period before entering the next tournament in China.