Ratchanok goes down fighting to No 1
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Thai women players met with mixed fortunes in the US$400,000 Li Ning China Masters in Changzhou yesterday, with teen sensation Ratchanok Intanon falling victim to world No 1 Wang Yihan, but Sapsiree Taerattanachai booking a semi-final berth.
China’s Wang, the London Games silver medallist, proved too strong for Ratchanok, beating the 17-year-old Thai in straight games 21-15 21-17. In today’s semi-finals, Wang takes on another Thai, world No 34 Sapsiree, the 21-13 21-13 winner over Japan’s Minatsu Mitani.
In the mixed doubles, Thailand’s second seeds and world No 6 Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkham brushed off Chin’s Liu Cheng and Luo Yu in straight games 21-12 21-12 and next take on another Chinese pairing, Qui Zihan and Tang Jinhua in the semi-finals.
