THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Busanan Marches Towards the Quarter-finals

Busanan Marches Towards the Quarter-finals

Thai No 2 Busanan Ongbumrungphan reached her third straight quarter-final of the season after she edged past Chinese Chen Xiaoxin of China 21-18 21- 14 in the women’s singles second round of the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters World Grand Prix Gol

The sixth seed and world No 19 relied on her extensive experience to outclass the Chinese rising star in 53 minutes for her third quarter-finals after reaching this same stage in Malaysia and India.
 
 
 
“I was better at my shot selection and made her struggle in her movement. I think she was still young and still made easy errors. I’m happy to be in the quarter-final just like I planned,” said the 19-year-old Busanan who will face Dinar Dyah Ayustine of Indonesia, a 21-19 11-21 21-19 winner over Karin Schnaase of Germany, in today’s quarter-finals.
 
 
 
“I used to play her in an Indonesian League several years ago. She is one of Indonesian rising stars which means she should be trained hard to be at this stage of the tournament. But I will try my best to reach the semi-final as each win really counts at this moment in order to qualify for the Olympics,” added Busanan.
 
 
 
Second seed Ratchanok Intanon had a comfortable win over Supamart Mingchua, beating the young opponent 21-12 21-13 in just 27 minutes and will next play either Nichaon Jindapol or Rong Schafer of Malaysia today.
 
 
 
"MY target is still to reach the semi-final. No matter who I play next I cannot underestimate them. I have to stick to my game plan and play smart," said the word No 6.
 
 
 
In the mixed doubles second round, qualifiers Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, a day after settling score with  Indonesian Jordan Praveen and Susanto Debby whom they lost in the final of the Syed Modi International Championships in India two weeks ago, extended their run with a win over Nipitphon Puangpuapech and Jongkolphan Kititharakul   21-12 21-19.
 
 
 
 
 
“ After beating the second seeded pair, it gave us a lot of confidence. We got to play the pairs that we lost to them before so we have no pressure. Now we have a shot at reaching deep in the tournament,” said  the 23-year-old Sapsiree, the 2010  Asian Games team silver medallist.
 
 
 
Dechapol and Sapsiree will take on Malaysian seventh seeded Peng Soon Chan and Liu Ying Goh in the quarter-finals today.
 
“We lost to them last year in Mexico. We want to turn the tables on them this time. We must make them move as much as possible and don’t give them easy points,” said the Ramkamhaeng University freshman.
 
 
 
Also reaching the final eights were Bodin Issara and Savitree Amitrapai who beat Chan Alan Yun Lung and Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong 21-17 12-21 21-11. Veteran duo Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam emulated their compatriots by beating Yong Kai Terry Hee and Wei Han Tan of Singapore 21-16 21-13. Saralee was sustaining a left ankle injury during the second game but gritted her teeth to finish the match. She was sent to the hospital right after the match and may have to pull out of today’s quarter-finals.
 
 
 
 In the men’s singles third round, teenage Kantaphon Wangcharoen, one of the three remaining local men, had no answer to the superior game of top seed and world No 19 Lee Hyun Il of South Korea who handed him a 11-21 15-21 defeat in just 35 minutes. Thai No 1 Boonsak Ponsana lost to Hu Yun 18-21 12-21 But No  Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk beat Kwang Hee Heo of South Korea 21-11 16-21 21-14.
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