Ratchanok Intanon has won six out of six in 2019
Busanan next for red-hot Ratchanok
Newly crowned Malaysia Masters winner Ratchanok Intanon extended her winning streak into the Indonesia Masters as her compatriots also had a successful day in Jakarta yesterday.
The world No 8, who upset three-time world champion Carolina Marin to successfully defend her title in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, prolonged her unbeaten record to 6-0 this year as she tamed Malaysian Sonia Cheah 21-15 21-14 in just 39 minutes.
The 23-year-old Ratchanok, seeded seventh in the tournament, will on Thursday face Thai No 4 Busanan Ongbamrunghan, who stunned world No 20 Cai Yanyan of China 21-13 21-14.
The in-form Ratchanok will be red-hot favourite – she hasn‘t lost a single game in her six matches in 2019 and has never lost to Busanan in five meetings.
Also joining them in round two was Thai No 2 Nitchanon Jindapol, who outclassed Egeniya Kosetskaya 21-9 21-9, but a tough time awaits Nitchaon on Thursday when she faces old rival He Bingjiao of China, the world No 7, who has a 3-0 record against her.
Later in the day, Thai No 3 Pornpawee Chochuwong shrugged off a poor start to beat Chloe Birch of ENgland 17-21 21-8 21-9.
On the men’s side, Thai No 1 Khosit Phetpradab suffered his third straight first-round exit, losing to Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus of Denmark 21-12 18-21 21-16.
Thai No 2 Kantaphon Wangcharoen fared better but had to dig deep to down compatriot Suppanyu Avihingsanon 21-15 20-22 21-15.
World No 40 Sitthikom Thammasin reached the second round for the second time this year, after the Thailand Masters, following a 21-11 21-19 win over Kazumasa Sakai of Japan.
In the mixed doubles, world No 5 Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, after back-to-back finals at home and in Malaysia, continued their impressive form by beating Rehan Kusharjanto and Siti Ramadhanti of Indonesia 21-18 21-17.
The women’s pairing of Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai ousted Ashwini Ponnappa and Reddy N Sikki of India 21-14 21-14.