Luksika strikes silver but vows to go one better
A day after making history with Tamarine Tanasugarn by claiming Thailand's first ever Asian Games gold in women's tennis doubles, Luksika Kumkhum crashed to the earth yesterday when she was upset by China's Wang Qiang in the singles final.
The world No 97 and top seed out-powered her rival with a barrage of groundstrokes but became impatient at key moments and paid the price with a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) defeat in one hour and 50 minutes of entertaining baseline rallies at the Yeorumul Tennis Complex.
“I have to apologise to Thai fans for not being able to win the match. I wasn’t patient enough. My opponent dealt with the situation better and was more consistent,” said the 21-year-old Luksika, who on Monday evening paired up with Tammy to upset Hsieh Su-wei, the two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, and Chan Chin-wei in the women’s doubles final.
“If I get the chance to play the Asian Games again, I promise to win the singles gold for all Thais,” added Luksika, whose next date is a WTA event in Osaka.
Luksika’s defeat means Thailand’s wait for the elusive gold in women’s singles goes on, after Tamarine also had to settle for silvers in the 1998 Bangkok and 2002 Busan Games.
However, the Thai tennis squad exceeded expectations in Incheon, winning the gold, the silver, and one bronze from Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana in the men’s doubles.
“Before we arrived in Incheon, there was little hope for the tennis team. So three medals are more than we imagined possible. The team will incentive money from Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand president Suwat Liptapanlop when we return home,” said Luksika.
The tennis boss had pledged Bt1 million for a gold-winner, Bt500,000 for a silver medallist and Bt200,000 for a bronze medallist.
In the men’s singles final, there was a big upset when Japan’s Yoshuhito Nishioka stunned world No 42 and top seed Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan 6-2 6-2.
Meanwhile in men’s bowling, Thai men’s singles ten-pin gold medallist Yannaphon Larp-Apharat won the silver from the men’s all-round event with a total of 5,015, with South Korean Park Jongwoo taking the gold with 5,047.
