A world champ we can all learn from

There is much to learn from the thrilling story of Ratchanok “Nong May” Intanon, who will tomorrow be officially recognised as the World No 1 in badminton, becoming Thailand’s first global champion in the sport.

This time last year Ratchanok gave the Kingdom a tremendous morale boost when she became our first all-Asia champion by upsetting Li Xuerui of China, the top seed and an Olympic gold medallist. On Sunday she capped that in equally dramatic fashion, coming from behind at the Singapore Open to beat another top-ranked Chinese player, Sun Yu, who was defending her title in the tournament.

In doing so, Ratchanok not only shattered China’s dominance in the game but also earned the World No 1 ranking. 

Nong May is beloved by badminton fans for her strong determination and laser-like aim at specific goals. These traits were already in evidence when she won three consecutive World Junior Championships beginning in 2009. Since then she has overcome injury, swept past distractions and shed the sense of intimidation that must inevitably arise when facing the formidable Chinese players.

The triumph in Singapore was Ratchanok’s third win in a row following victories in India and Malaysia, a rare hat-trick in a sport with tremendous depth of talent. To finish off the run by prevailing over an opponent of Sun Yu’s stature was nothing short of astounding – and yet, given the Thai player’s drive and skill, it hardly seems surprising.

We join the millions in congratulating Ratchanok for her well-deserved victory and world title, and for overcoming a string of challenges to reach the highest level. It is doubly thrilling to learn that, having realised her personal “dream” of becoming world champ, she has now set herself the goal of winning the gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games this summer.

Thailand has of course been blessed with a bounty of sporting heroes, even if World No 1 rankings have been sparse. More often it’s been a case of national champions reaching heady heights – James Wattana in snooker and Paradorn Srichaphan in tennis come to mind – but then not quite fulfilling their perceived potential. Others have enjoyed international fame only to be beguiled by its trappings and fading from the scoreboards. 

Ratchanok, happily, seems impervious to the pressure and the distractions. She won the world championships four years ago and was bombarded with not just adoration but lucrative offers to move into other fields. There was every chance she might lose focus, but that stoic determination kept her feet on the ground and carried her forward to global greatness in the sport.

Importantly, Ratchanok has always been able to count on solid support from family and colleagues. From a young age she’s been given and earned the chances to develop her gift and rise from local competition to the world stage, contesting at the toughest levels. Now, still only 21, she owns the summit.

Therein lies another key lesson in Ratchanok’s triumph. To excel in athletics, players need the opportunity to constantly compete, test their skills against others and become familiar with the venues, the crowds, the possibilities and the limitations. Parents, to start with, and coaches, later, need to provide these chances if they think their young player has potential. The government, which can claim no credit at all for fostering the country’s latest sports heroine, ought to have its eyes on the practice courts and its ears to the coaches’ advice. Cultivating sporting talent is an endeavour that both the public and the private sector can share in. 

And the youngsters who dream of fame, just as Ratchanok did, ought to be taking note of how her strong will, hard work, passion and focus combined to create an unstoppable force. Thailand would love to have more World No 1 heroes. Let’s help the kids strive to get there.