Busanan loses to her Taiwanese rival again
Play
Thailand's Busanan Ongbumrungpan squandered her lead in the final game to lose to old rival Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan in the Yonex Chinese Taipei Open semi-final yesterday.
A day after stunning fourth-seeded Yeon Ju Bae of South Korea 19-21 21-17 21-18 in quarter-finals, the world No 17 fought back from 9-12 down in the decider to lead 17-15. But she gave in to her nerves and lost the 66-minute fight to the second seed and world No 8, 21-17 15-21 19-21. The Thai lost twice to the Taiwanese this year, including in the German Open in February where she lost narrowly 26-24 in the third game.
In the mixed doubles quarter-finals on Friday, second seed Saralee Thoungthongkam and Sudket Prapakamol were knocked out by South Korean Ki Jung Kim and So Young Kim 21-13 22-20.
Thai players will next enter the China Masters which starts next week in Guangzhou.
