Ratchanok shuttles through round 1
Thai badminton players had mixed luck in the Swiss Open Badminton Championships, with teen prodigy Ratchanok Intanon advancing to the second round but All-England semi-finalist Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk crashing out in the second round on Wednesday.
World No 37 Tanongsak went down to top seed and world No 3 Du Pengyu of China 17-21 28-26 21-14 in the second round, while local best and world No 11 Boonsak Ponsana crashed out in the first round on Tuesday with a shock 18-21 21-13 21-12 defeat at the hands of India’s HS Prannoy.
In the women’s singles, world No 8 and fifth seed Ratchanok, 18, who made history last week in becoming the first Thai woman to advance to the prestigious All-England final, cleared her first hurdle by beating Japan’s Kana Ito 21-10 10-21 21-9. She was to take on Taiwan’s Pai Hsiao Ma later yesterday.
Thailand’s Busanan Ongbumrungpan, champion at last year’s Malaysia Open, struggled to beat Germany’s Karin Schnaase 21-10 18-21 21-19. Last night, she was due to challenge Chinese fourth seed and world No 6 Wang Shixian in the second round.
Thailand also had two pairs advance in the women’s doubles. Fourth seeds and world No 10 Duanganong Aroonkesorn and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul outclassed qualifiers and world No 179 Aratama Misato and Megumi Tarono of Japan in straight games 21-15 21-14.
Team-mates Artima Serithammarak and Peeraya Munkitamorn thrashed Switzerland’s Celine Burkart and Simore von Rotz 21-7 21-6.
Duanganong and Kunchala were due to play Germans Johanna Golidzewski/Birgit Michels in the second round yesterday, with Artima and Peeraya taking on Indonesian sixth seeds Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth and Rizki Amelia Pradipta of Indonesia.
Also entering the second round were the mixed doubles pair of Sudket Prapakamol and Kulchala Voravichitchaikul, who beat Indonesians Alvent Yulianto Chandara and Rizki Amelia Pradipta 21-17 20-22 21-17. The Thais were to play England’s Chris Langridge and Heather Olver.
Sudket also partnered Bodin Issara in the men’s doubles but went down to India’s Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalker 12-21 21-17 21-15.
