Quarter-final heartbreak for Thailand
South Korea eliminated Thailand 3-2 in the quarter-finals of the Sudirman Cup in Finland yesterday.
Lee So-Hee and Shin Seung-Chan sealed the winning point for South Korea when they beat Thailand’s Jongkolphan Kittitharakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-11, 17-21, 21-19 in the women’s doubles at the Energia Areena in Vantaa.
The South Korean duo, who reached the semi-finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, edged past Thailand’s makeshift pair in one hour and 30 minutes in the mixed team world championship postponed from last year.
Jongkolphan normally plays with
Rawinda Prajongjai, while Sapsiree is a specialist in the mixed doubles.
In another quarter-final, China beat Denmark 3-2.
Thailand took the lead when Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree beat Kim Wan-Ho and Kong Hee-Yong 21-9, 21-17 in the opening mixed doubles match.
In the men’s singles, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn lost to Heo KwangHee 16-21, 21-7, 20-22 in one hour and 17 minutes.
In the women’s singles, Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong was defeated 21-18, 21-3 by An Se-Young.
In the men’s doubles, Thailand’s
Supak Jomkoh and Kittinupong Kedren finished off Choi Sol-Gyu and Seo Seung-Jae 21-18, 24-22 in 48 minutes.
Thailand were without their top women’s player Ratchanok Intanon whose mother passed away recently.
The Thais defeated India and Finland and lost to China in the group stage at Vantaa 2021.
Thailand reached the semi-finals in the previous edition in 2019 but lost 3-0 to China who went on to claim their 11th title in Nanning.
Thailand’s best results in the biennial championship were in 2013, 2017 and 2019 when they won bronze medals after losing in the semi-finals.