Perfect SEA Games boost for Luksika
Thai No 1 Luksika Kumkhum left for the 29th SEA Games with a perfect record of 10-0 as she won back-to-back titles the US$25,000 PTT-LTAT Academy Thailand ITF Women's Circuit in Nonthaburi yesterday.
Committed to the final match against Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue at the LTAT National Tennis Development Centre, the top seed was unable to join her national teammates for Saturday’s morning flight to Kuala Lumpur.
But a late catch-up with them did not seem so bad as she regrouped with them at night along with her second title of the year that followed a 7-5 6-2 win over the Chinese teenager. The 24-year-old couldn’t ask for a better preparation for the regional Games as she never lost to anyone since her victory in the US$25,000 ITF Circuit in Hua Hin a few weeks ago.
“The team had already left in the morning and I had to change my flight to the afternoon. But it’s worth the delay as this win really boosts my confidence for the SEA Games,” said Luksika, the highest ranked player at No 179 in the world in this Games’ edition.
This will be her only second appearance in the regional sporting event after the 2015 meet in Singapore where she led the women’s team to the gold medal.
“I only competed in the team’s event two years ago which was my only time in the SEA Games. As there’s no team event this year, I’m playing the my first Games singles. I’m quite motivated to win the gold medal just like the rest of the team,” said Luksika who won the silver medal in the Asian Games in South Korea three years ago.
Apart from the women’s singles, Thailand are the favourite to win the men’s doubles represented by defending champion Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana and women’s doubles with Peangtarn Plipuech and Nicha Lertpitaksinchai as the specialists in this category.
