Thai quartet shuttle into Denmark quarters
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Four Thai shuttlers led by world champion Ratchanok Intanon secured quarter-final berths in the Yonex Denmark Open with impressive wins on Thursday.
World No 2 and second-seeded Ratchanok took just 38 minutes to dispatch Czech world No 40 Kristina Gavnholt 21-12 21-17 in the women’s second round.
The teenage sensation was due to take on Japanese world No 19 Eriko Hirose late yesterday, the Asian bronze medallist she has edged in three games in their previous two meets.
In the men’s singles second round, world No 19 and All England bronze medallist Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk came from behind to beat Malaysian Wei Feng Chong, No 18 in the world and bronze winner in this year’s Asian meet, 15-21 21-17 21-17.
He was due to take on world No 15 Sony Dwi Kuncoro, who holds a 3-1 advantage over the Thai in their previous meetings.
Also advancing to the quarter-finals were Duanganong Aroonkesorn and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul in the women’s doubles. The seventh seeds and world No 8 sent hosts Celine Juel/Josephine Van Zaane packing 21-10 21-14 in 32 minutes.
In the quarter-finals last night, the Thais were looking for revenge against Japanese Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi, after the world No 4 duo swept past Thailand’s Narissapat Lam and Savitree Amitrpai 21-14 21-11 on Thursday.
