Walk in the park for Thais as they reach last 16 in KL
Busanan Ongbamrungphan, Phittayaporn Chaiwan and Kunlavut Vitidsarn advanced to the last 16 of the US$675,000 Malaysia Open at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Men’s doubles duo Supak Jomkoh and Kittinupong Kedren also progressed to the last 16 round of the World Tour Super 750 event.
World No.11 Busanan defeated Kim Ga-Eun of South Korea 22-20, 21-14 in the women’s singles first round.
The 26-year-old has a tough assignment against Tokyo Olympic champion and fourth seed Chen Yufei of China in the last 16 today.
The 20th-ranked Phittayaporn defeated Fitriani Fitriani of Indonesia 21-18, 21-15 to seal her place in the last 16. The 21-year-old next faces Indian seventh seed Pusarla V Sindhu, who knocked out Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-13, 21-17.
The 18th-ranked Kunlavut battled past Zhao Junpeng of China 21-19, 14-21, 21-15 in his men’s singles first round match. The 21-year-old rising star will play India’s Kashyap Parupalli today.
In the men’s doubles, Supak and Kittinupong rallied to defeat local players Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Lim Khim
Wah 15-21, 21-14 21-13.
Thai women’s doubles pair Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai fell at the first hurdle while men’s singles star Kantaphon Wangcharoen pulled out of his first-round match against Kento Momota of Japan.
Today, eighth seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, who won her opener on Tuesday, will meet Zhang Beiwen of the United States for a place in the quarter-finals.
Mixed doubles top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai will take on fellow Thais Supak Jomkoh and Supissara Paewsampran.