Thailand's Boonsak through to last 8, young Busanan out

Veteran Boonsak Ponsana advanced to the men’s quarter-finals while Thai hopes on the women’s side ended with the exit of up-and-coming Busanan Ongbumrungpan.

Boonsak, world No 5 and eighth seed, had a comfortable 21-7 21-8 victory over Japan’s Sho Sasaki in the second round. The win stretched the Thai ace’s career record against the world No 19 to 6-3.

However, Boonsak faces a daunting task in today’s quarter-finals when he takes on either world No 1 and top seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia or world No 55 B Sai Praneeth, one of India’s fast-improving youngsters. Their match was to be held late yesterday. 

Lee battled hard to beat Chinese Wang Zhengming 20-22 21-4 22-20 in the first round on Wednesday, while Sai stormed back to beat former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia 15-21 21-12 21-17.

There was no dream farewell to badminton for retiring Indonesian idol Taufik, who went out with a whimper rather than a bang. The 31-year-old, who has won this event six times, bid an emotional adieu to his compatriots. On the women’s side, teen sensation Busanan, who stunned world No 8 and the Swiss Open champ Wang Shixian of China in the first round, was humbled 21-8 21-16 by Spain’s Carolina Marin, world No 20 and Finnish Open champ. 

Busanan’s shock defeat put an end to the Thai women’s campaign.

 Meanwhile, the Thai men’s duo of Maneepong Jongjit and Nipitphon Puangpuapech outclassed Poles Lukasz Moren and Wojciech Szkudlarczk 21-16 21-18 in the first round on Wednesday. The Thais were to take on Korean eighth seeds Shin Baek-choel and Yoo Yeon-seong later yesterday. “Our serving was better. There was some breeze in the gymnasium, which affected our serving and drop-shots,” said Maneepong. “We tried to push them to the limit with fierce attacks at the net. We took command as they [the Poles] relied on defence. It wasn’t a difficult match.

“We next take on the Koreans. It will be a tough match. We have never played them before. I think they attack well and we cannot underestimate them. We will do our best.”

In the women’s doubles, Thai sixth seeds Duanganong Aroonkesorn and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul crashed out in the first round to Indonesia’s Anneke Feiriya Agustin and Della Destiara Haris 21-16 21-16. Compatriots and qualifiers Patiphat Chalardchaleam and Jongkonphan Kittiharakul also lost their mixed doubles opener, bested by Russians Vladimir Ivanov and Anastasia Chervaykova 21-17 21-16.