Thai women shuttlers dare to dream
Tough draw for men as they run into reigning champions South Korea in the opener
>> The Thai men’s badminton team begin their Asian Games campaign with a tough opener against defending champions South Korea today while their women counterparts will face either Pakistan or Taiwan in the quarter-finals.
Champions South Korea are led by world No.5 Son Wan-Ho, while No.20 Kantaphon Wangcharoen is Thailand’s highest-ranked player.
World champions China, who were runners-up at Incheon 2014, are top seeds and received a first round bye in the 16-team event and so did second seeds Indonesia and fourth seeds Taiwan. No.3 seeds Japan will play Malaysia in the first round today, with the winners of the tie taking on either Thailand or South Korea in the quarters.
Japan are the only seeded team who have to play in the first round while the other three go straight into the quarter-finals.
In the women’s event, the Thai team, led by world No.4 Ratchanok Intanon, received a first round bye. They could face defending champions China in the semi-finals.
Reigning world champions Japan are top seeds, followed by China, Thailand and South Korea.
“The Asian Games is like the world championships or the Asian Championships because each team train their hardest for these tournaments. It’s like a prep for the Olympic Games,” said Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand.
“It will be a tough for our players, but everyone is confident.
“Our biggest hopes of course rest on the women’s team, who were the Uber Cup finalists, as well as the women’s singles and doubles events.
“I’m confident that we will win medals.”
Patama said she expected the women’s team to reach the semi-finals.
“We are seeded third and received a first round bye, and we expect t o play Taiwan, who have world No.1 Tai Tzuying, in the quarterfinals,” said Patama.
“We should be able to beat Taiwan and get to the semi-finals where we will likely meet China.
“We will of course be the underdogs against the Chinese but hopefully we can win all three singles points.
“China will be determined to avenge their Uber Cup loss but if we can beat them it will guarantee a silver medal for Thailand.”
The BAT boss was less enthusiastic when it came to the prospect of the men’s team.
“I have to say that it will be very tough for the men’s team. South Korea, who are the defending champions, are very strong opponents. Even if we can beat them, we will probably meet Japan, the Thomas Cup finalists, who on paper are stronger than us in all of the match-ups.
“I suppose we’ll have to see it round by round and not look too far ahead.”
The l ast ti me Thailand won badminton medals was eight years ago at the Guangzhou Games where the women’s team won silver and the men’s team took bronze.
Ratchanok, Nitchaon and Sapsiree were members of the 2010 team, while Suppanyu Avihingsanon is the only remaining member of the men’s team.
The team competition will end on Wednesday while the singles, doubles and mixed events start on Thursday at Istora Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta.
Four years ago, South Korea won the men’s team while China took the women’s honours. China’s Lin Dan and Wang Yihan won the men’s and women’s singles titles while Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, Nitya Krishinda Maheswari and Greysia Polii swept the men’s and women’s doubles crowns. China’s Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei won the mixed doubles title.