Ratchanok flies into Masters second round
Fresh from helping her Bangkok Thonburi University team to win a silver at the University Games, Thai No 1 Ratchanok Intanon showed no sign of exhaustion as she ousted rising star Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia in the Malaysian Masters first round on Wednesday.
The defending champion had to fly on Tuesday to Kuala Lumpur from Ubon Ratchathani, where the ongoing Universiade is being staged, after finishing the women’s team competition.
She nonetheless had no problem topple the former world junior champion 21-15 21-16 in her first BWF event of the season.
Thai No 4 Busanan Ongbamrungphan could not emulate her compatriot, however, losing 21-15 21-15 to Chinese fifth seed He Bingjiao. Also eliminated was world No 18 Nitchaon Jindapol after she went down to former world No 1 Carolina Marin of Spain 21-19 25-23.
In the men’s singles first round, Two Thais made it to round two. Thai No 1 Kantaphon Wancharoen beat Rajiv Ouseph of Greta Britain 21-19 21-13 while Suppanyu Avihingsanon beat Taiwanese Wang Tzu Wei 11-21 21-17 21-12. But Thai No 2 Khosit Phetpradab was downed 18-21 21-9 21-10 by sixth seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia.
In the women’s doubles, Sapsiree Taerattanachai and Puttita Supajirakul, who won the Thailand Masters on Sunday, their second title together, continued their winning run, beating Agatha Imanuela and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti of Indonesia 21-13 21-9.
Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai went down to Della Destiara Haris and Virni Putri of Indonesia 17-21 21-19 27-25.
