Kunlavut reaches Thailand Masters semis
Teenager sets up semi-final clash with Japan’s Nishimoto, Ratchanok suffers shock defeat
>> Kunlavut Vitidsarn will take on Kenta Nishimoto in the men’s singles semi-finals of the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters 2020 at Indoor Stadium Hua Mark today.
The 18-year-old rising star is the country’s only hope for a victory at the US$170,000 (approximately 5.1 million baht) tournament after Ratchanok Intanon’s surprise defeat yesterday.
Kunlavut defeated fellow Thai Suppanyu Avihingsanon 21-10, 21-17 to make his first semi-final appearance in a BWF World Tour Super 300 event.
The 39th-ranked Kunlavut claimed his third straight world junior champion title in Kazan, Russia, last year. He has so far won five BWF International Challenge titles and has had two runnerup finishes.
World No.16 Nishimoto beat Zhao Jungpeng of China 21-11, 22-20 yesterday.
Second seed Shi Yuqi of China will face third Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong in the other semi-final.
Shi defeated Shesar Hiren Rhustavito 21-19, 21-15, while Ng Ka Long beat Heo Kwang-Hee of South Korea 21-16, 13-21, 21-11.
Second seed Ratchanok was looking to win back-to-back titles after claiming her first of the year at the Indonesia Masters last Sunday.
However 20th-ranked Aya Ohori had other ideas. The Japanese rallied after losing the opening game to stun the Thai 16-21, 21-17, 21-11 and seal her place in the last four against third seed An Se-Young of South Korea.
Top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan will square off against fourth seed Carolina Marin of Spain in the other semi-final.
Yamaguchi defeated Gregoria Tunjung 25-23, 21-15. Marin, who was runner-up to Ratchanok in Jakarta, cruised past eighth seed Sayaka Takahashi of Japan 21-9, 21-16.
In the men’s doubles, defending champs Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong of Malaysia will play Huang Kaixiang and Liu Cheng of China and Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Pohsuan of Taiwan will meet Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi.
Top seeds Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan of China, the 2017 winners, will play third seeds Kim So-Yeong and Kong Hee-Yong of South Korea in the women’s doubles semi-finals while Baek Ha-Na and Jung Kyung-Eun will face Chang Ye-Na and Kim Hye-Rin in an all-Korean semi-final.
Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia will take on Hafiz Faizal and Gloria Widjaja for a place in the mixed doubles final, while Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai, also from Malaysia, will face either
Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith of England or Choi Sol-Gyu and Shin Seung-Chan of South Korea.