Nehwal joins star-studded Bangkok field
World No.2 Saina Nehwal of India will take part in next month’s inaugural Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters, organisers said yesterday.
The US$120,000 Grand Prix Gold tournament will be held at Bangkok’s Nimibutr Stadium from Feb 8-13 and is expected to attract more than 300 shuttlers.
Nahathai Sornprachum, general secretary of the Badminton Association of Thailand, said the event is being organised in honour of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, a former national team player.
It also gives Thai players chances to gain points to qualify for the Olympics, she said.
Apart from Nehwal, the other players in the women’s event include world No.5 Ratchanok Intanon and No.19 Busanan Ongbumrungphan, No.11 Sun Yo of China and No.13 Bae Yeon-Ju of South Korea.
World No.8 Sung Ji-Hyun, another South Korean, will be trying to win another title here after winning the Thailand Open last year.
The men’s event will feature No.12 Lee Hun-Il and No.13 Son Wan-Ho of South Korea, No.14 Hu Yun of Hong Kong, and No.15 Paruphalli Kashyap of India.
Lee, 35, is the reigning Thailand Open champion.
The Thai challenge will be led by No.29 Boonsak Ponsana and No.33 Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk.
Indonesia’s Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan, two-time world champions who are ranked second in the world, are favourites in the men’s doubles.
South Korea’s Chang Ye-Na and Lee So-Hee, the world No.5, are the highestranked duo in the women’s doubles.
The local contingent will be spearheaded by No.21 Puttita Supajirkul and Supsiree Taerattanachai, and No.22 Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai.
In the mixed doubles, Thailand will be pinning their hope on Saralee Thoungthongkam and Sudket Prapakamol.
Nahathai said the Thai team had a disappointing campaign at last year’s Thailand Open, which offered Olympic qualifying points, with Ratchankok the only Thai who reached the semi-finals.
“We hope our players will perform better this time,” Nahathai said. “It will be a great venue for them to gain points for Olympic berths. But it will not be easy as there are a lot of good foreign players.”
The Olympic qualification will end on April 30 and Nahathai hopes a couple of Thais will join Ratchanok in Rio.
“It is almost certain that Ratchanok will get an Olympic berth,” Nahathai said. “Busasan could also get a spot but she has to be in the world’s top 16.”
She added that Boonsak could still qualifying for his fourth Olympics.
The men’s and women’s doubles at the Rio Games are for the top 13 pairs as there will be three wildcards in each event.