Jongkolphan, Rawinda pull off big upset in last 8
>> Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai knocked out top seeds Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota to book their berth in the women’s doubles semi-finals of the US$350,000 Thailand Open at Nimibutr Stadium yesterday.
The fifth-seeded Thais won the three-game thriller 21-13, 14-21, 21-12 in 65 minutes. They next play another Japanese pair, the third-seeded Misaki Matsumoto and Ayaka Takahashi, in today’s semi-finals of the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament.
Suppanyu Avihingsanon also made it to the last four, beating Kenta Nishimoto of Japan 21-19, 21-16 in the men’s singles quarter-finals.
He awaits the winner of the last quarter-final match between another home hope Kantaphon Wangcharoen and Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia.
Khosit Phetpradab, however, was unable to join his compatriot in the last four after he lost to fifth seed Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan 15-21, 13-21. Tsuneyama next plays Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia.
The local challenge in the mixed event ended after seventh seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai lost to Lu Kai and Chen Lu of China 10-21, 21-18, 13-21.
In the men’s doubles, Bodin Isara and Maneepong Jongjit, the only Thais left in the event, were due to play Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia later last night.
In the women’s singles, seventh seed Zhang Beiwen of the US upset top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 14-21, 21-19, 21-19. She faces Nozomi Okuhara for a place in the final after the Japanese fourth seed beat compatriot Aya Ohori 21-12, 15-21, 21-19.
In the bottom half, second seed Pusarla V Sindhu beat Soniia Cheah of Malaysia 21-17, 21-13 to set up a semi-final clash against Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who beat Michelle Li of Canada 21-17, 21-8.