Ratchanok eases past Pornpawee in Malaysia Open
Ratchanok Intanon remained the sole Thai survivor in the Malaysian Open after she outplayed countrywoman Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-15 21-16 in the quarter-finals in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Two Thai doubles teams were eliminated. Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai went down to second seeded Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping of China 13-21 21-14 14-21 in mixed doubles.
In women’s doubles, Jongkolphan Kittitharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai lost to top seeded Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan of China 11-21 14-21.
Ratchanok lines up the semi-final final clash with He Bingjiao of China who upset world No 2 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-18 21-18 on Saturday. The world No 4 has never beaten the Chinese rival in all their three previous encounters.
