FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Ratchanok Reaches Princess Thailand Masters Final.

Ratchanok Reaches Princess Thailand Masters Final.

[BADMINTON] Home crowd’s favourite Ratchanok Intanon lived up to the expectations after she downed Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea 21-15 22- 20 to reach the women’s singles final of the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters World Grand Prix Gold a

The world No 6 showed her world class performance of all court play to beat the world No 5 in front of over 2,000 fans to become the only Thai remaining in tournament.  She now leveled their head-to-head record to 6-6.

“I’m well prepared for the match so I am quite confident coming into the match,” said the 21-year-old who fought off a game point at 19-20 by producing some stunning rallies to turn the situation around.

“I knew I just need to hang in there and waited for her to miss. Even if there was the third game, I would have been fit enough to compete,” said the former world champion who said she was boosted by the cheering crowd.

“There were so many fans coming to see me. I was really motivated by the fans to give my all out there,” Ratchanok said.

In the other semi-final, Thai No 2 Busanan Ongbumrungphan had no answer to the superior game of world No 11 and fourth seed Sun Yu of China as she lost their seventh encounter 16-21 11-21 after 52 minutes of play. Ratchanok said she would put all effort to stage a revenge for her countrywoman.

“It won’t be too tough if I can live up to my top form. She is a tall girl so I need to make her move as much as I can. I will try hard to beat her for Busanan and Pattarasuda Chaiwan (lost to Sun in first round),” said Ratchanok who said she had desire to win the Princess Trophy when she was warming up and saw that it was so big.

Ratchanok is in her first final after winning the Indonesia Super Series Premier in June last year.

In the men’s singles semi-final, Thai No 2 Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk was outclassed by top seed and world No 19 Lee Hyun Il of South Korea 11-21 11-21 in just 31 minutes5. The Thai has lost all five meets to the South Korea and never took a game from him.

Lee will set up a final clash against third seed Hu Yun of Hong Kong who upset second seed Son Wan Ho of South Korea 11-21 24-22 21-16 in one hour and nine minutes.

In the mixed doubles actions, local pair Bodin Issara and Savitree Amitrapai had no answer to the compatibility of world No 13 Peng Soon Chan and Liu Ying Goh of Malaysia who trounced then 21-18 21- 14. Third seed and world No 10 Lee Chun Hei Reginald and Chau Hoi Wah of Hong Kong  were upset by  Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen of China 15-21 11-21.  

 

 

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