Thais off to impressive starts in Shanghai
SHANGHAI: The Thai men’s and women’s teams posted encouraging results as the Thomas and Uber Cups got underway yesterday.
The men’s team led by Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk earned themselves a chance of making it to the quarter-finals of the Thomas Cup with a 3-2 Group B victory over India.
Prior to the teams’ departure for Shanghai, Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, had said that it would be a tough task for the men’s squad as they have been placed in the “group of death”.
Tanongsak put the Thais on course with a 21-16, 12-21, 21-14 win over India’s Ajay Jayaram before the pair of Bodin Issara and Nipitphon Puangpuapech made it 2-0.
The victory was sealed by the duo of Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Kittinupong Kedren in the second doubles encounter. They edged Akshay Dewalkar and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy 21-15, 14-21, 21-15 to give Thailand an unassailable 3-1 advantage.
In the Uber Cup, world No.2 Ratchanok Intanon was instrumental in guiding Thailand to an impressive 4-1 win over Hong Kong in Group C. She defeated Pui Yin Yip 21-18, 21-15 in the first singles match-up.
Busanan Onbamrungphan was the only Thai to lose her match, going down 14-21, 13-21 to Ngan Yi Chueng. Nitchaon Jindapol edged Ying Mein Cheung 21-11, 21-14 after the pair of Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai and duo Jongkolphan Kitiharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai had won their respective doubles battles.
The women’s team are favourites to beat Bulgaria in their second match today, while the men’s squad take on the mighty Indonesians tomorrow.