Ratchanok, Nitchaon in Asian quarters
Ratchanok Intanon and Nitchaon Jindapol moved into the quarter-finals of the Asia Championships in Wuhan, China yesterday.
Sixth seed Ratchanok eased past Soniia Cheah of Malaysia 21-18, 21-7, while Nitchaon beat third seed Sung Ji-Hyun of South Korea 21-16, 21-18.
Pornpawee Chochuwong was unable to make it three out of three for Thailand in the women’s singles after she lost to eighth seed He Bingjiao of China 13-21, 16-21.
In today’s quarter-finals, Ratchanok takes on second seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, while Nitchaon faces Korean qualifier Lee Jang-Mi.
Nitchaon, playing in the top half of the draw, could meet world No.1 Tai Tzu-ying in the semi-finals. The Taiwanese faces China’s Chen Yufei today.
Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Kittinupong Kedren booked their berth in the last eight of the men’s doubles after a hardfought 21-19, 18-21, 30-28 win over Japan’s Takuto Inoue and Yuki Kaneko.
Dechapol then teamed up with Sapsiree Taerattanachai to beat Liao Min Chun and Chen Hsiao Huan of Taiwan 21-12-21-18 and advance to the mixed doubles quarters.
Bodin Isara and Savitree Amitrapai were unable to join them in the last eight after a 21-14, 21-12 loss to China’s seventh seeds Zhang Nan and Li Yunhui.
Thailand’s interest in the men’s singles ended after both Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk and Khosit Phetpradab lost in the second round yesterday.
Jongkolphan Kittitharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai also crashed out in the women’s doubles.