Ratchanok targets title at BWF Finals
Thai ace wants to improve her ranking as she prepares for the BWF World Tour Finals in China
>> Ratchanok Intanon declared herself ready for the big challenge at the BWF World Tour Finals 2018 in China next week.
The Thai world No.8, who has qualified for the season-ending tournament for the sixth time in seven years, is targeting a semi-final spot at the Guangzhou tournament while also setting her sights on the elusive title.
Ratchanok said she will try to have a good run in Guangzhou to improve her year-end world ranking but added the ultimate goal would be to win the title.
“I’ve been training hard to prepare for the tournament,” said Ratchanok. “My fitness level is great. I’m ready.
“I know sometimes I make too many unforced errors and that’s something I’ve been working on. If I can be more consistent and not make easy mistakes, and keep my concentration, I think I have a good chance in Guangzhou.
“I hope to at least get to the semis but of course winning the year-end title will be great.”
Ratchanok lost to Akane Yamaguchi in the semi-finals at last year’s tournament in Dubai when it was the BWF Super Series Finals. The Japanese went on to win the title, beating India’s PV Sindhu in the decider.
In Guangzhou, Ratchanok will be up against top-ranked Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan, Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, Yamaguchi, China’s Chen Yufei, Sindhu, Canada’s Michelle Li and Zhang Beiwen of the US.
The eight players will be drawn into two groups. Tai and second seed Okuhara have already been assigned to Group A and B respectively. The draw will be made on Monday.
Apart from Ratchanok, Thai players have qualified in three other events — Kantaphon Wangcharoen (men’s singles), Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai (women’s doubles) and Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai (mixed doubles).
The US$1.5 million season finale features eight players and pairs in each of five categories (men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles) who accumulate the highest ranking points at the end of the circuit.