Noppawan gets toppled
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Noppawan Lertcheewakarn's hopes of having an ideal preparation for the SEA Games were dashed yesterday when she went down to Taiwanese favourite Chang Yung-jan in the first round of the OEC Taipei Ladies Open.
The 20-year-old Noppawan, who will spearhead the Thai women’s team in the regional sporting event in Jakarta next week, lost the battle 6-4 4-6 6-1 in more than two hours.
Thai No 1 Tamarine Tanasugarn, who will skip the SEA Games to focus on her career on the professional circuit, was due to take on Taiwanese wildcard entrant Lee Ya-hsun later yesterday.
In today’s first round, two Thais are scheduled to strut their stuff. Doubles specialist Varatchaya Wongteanchai will play American veteran Jill Craybas while Nudnida Luangnam will test her mettle against top seed and former Wimbledon and Australian Open doubles champion Zheng Jie of China.
