Busanan stands tall as Thais fall

Busanan, a quarter-finalist in the Malaysian Open last year, has high hopes of becoming only the second Thai girl to win a gold medal in the World Junior Championships, after Ratchanok Intanon’s triumphs in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

 “I’m determined to get great results here because it’s a home event and we have strong support from the fans and the Badminton Association,” said the 17-year-old, who was boosted coming into the Championships by her title win in the Dutch Open earlier this month.

 “I need to focus on my game plan every day and adjust to each court, as they are all different. Some are breezy, which means I must be very careful about my shots,” said the second seed, who toppled Malaysia’s Yen Mei Ho 21-6 21-14 in the round of 32. She was due to take on either France’s Marie Batomene or Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark in the round of 16 last night.

Compatriots Pornpawee Chochuwong and Thamolwan Poopradubsil were less fortunate in afternoon matches, when Pornpawee went down 18-21 21-16 22-20 to Xin Yuan Wang of China and Thamolwan was beaten 21-15 21-17 by Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. 

In the men’s singles third round Pannawit Thongnuam shrugged off a sluggish start to beat Mads Storgaard Sorensen of Denmark 21-13 21-13 and set up a clash with Taiwan’s Yang Sheng-jie, who upset world No 1 Teck Zhi Soo of Malaysia 21-12 21-15. 

Fellow Thai Kantaphon Wangcharoen was outclassed by Tzu Wei Wang of Taiwan 21-15 21-13. 

In other matches, Narissapat Lam and Puttita Supajirakul trounced Joella Geva De Vera and Eleanor Christine Inlayo 21-10 21-10 in the women’s doubles. Pacharapun Chochuwong and Chanisa Teachavorasinkun lost to Rena Miyaura and Wakana Nagahara of Japan 15-21 16-21.

In a gruelling men’s doubles third-round fight, Kittiphon Chairojkanjana and Sutichon Pol-Gul survived several match points to beat Chua Khek Wei and Mun Choon Woon of Malaysia 21-17 18-21 29-27, while Dechapol Puavaranukorn and Kittinupong Ketlen beat Chiang Yu-wei and Lee Yang of Taiwan 21-7 21-18.