Underpowered shuttlers target three Games golds
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National badminton coach Sompol Kookasemkit believes Thailand have a good chance of winning gold medals in the singles and men's doubles categories in the SEA Games, which overlap with the Super Series Finals in Malaysia.
The former national player has picked Thai No 2 Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, world junior No 1 Busanan Ongbumrungpan and the pair of Maneepong Jongjit and Niphitphon Puangpuapech as having the potential to win glory in Nay Pyi Taw.
Like powerhouses Malaysia and Indonesia, Thailand are unable to send their top team to the 27th SEA Games from December 11-22, as players including world No 1 Lee Chong-Wei of Malaysia have opted for the Kuala Lumpur Finals scheduled from December 11-15. The Kingdom’s team is without ace players Boonsak Ponsana, Ratchanok Intanon and the inform Porntip Buranaprasertsuk.
“Since some of our top players have qualified for the Super Series Finals, we cannot send the best team. It doesn’t mean that we are not in a good position to perform well, as other countries are facing the same scenario,” said Sompol.
“Tanongsak has been improving steadily and is now No 12 in the world. If he can maintain his form, he could spring a surprise. Busanan and Nichaon Jindapon have won one international title each this year. The three players are my favourites to win a gold,” he said.
Hosts Myanmar have dropped the men’s and women’s team events from the programme, and only five gold medals – in the men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles – are on offer.
“In fact, Myanmar had no plans of including badminton in the Games at all, but after requests, the sport was finally added. We won the women’s team event two years ago and it’s a pity we will not get the chance for a repeat because of its exclusion. But I expect our men’s doubles to cause a stir in the Games,” said Sompol.
He added that world champion Ratchanok, hoping to qualify for the Super Series Finals, had not submitted her entry for the Games and would now have to cool her heels at home after failing to qualify for the Super Series.
“It’s an unfortunate case. After she won the World Championship, she got injured and didn’t have enough points to be among the top eight. She will miss both the Games and the Finals but we still have Busanan and Nichaon who are in top form.”
Other Thai players who will play in the SEA Games are Sapsiree Taerattanachai and Puttita Supajirakul, Nirissapat Lam and Savitree Amitrapai in the women’s doubles and Wannawat Ampunsuwan and Patiphat Chalardchalaem in the men’s doubles. Sapsiree and Maneepong, Niphitphon and Puttita will play in the mixed doubles.
