Triple joy at German Open for Thai shuttlers
THAI STARS DECHAPOL Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai claimed their first title of the year and their 13th overall after winning the US$180,000 (B6 million) German Open on Sunday (Mar 13).
Shortly afterwards, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn defeated India’s Lakshya Sen 21
18, 21-15 in the men’s singles final of the same competition.
Dechapol and Sapsiree, the world No.1 and top-seeded
pair, overpowered unseeded Chinese duo Ou Xuan and Huang Yaqiong 21-11, 21-9 in just 35 minutes in the mixed doubles final of the BWF World Tour Super 300 event at Westenergie Sporthalle in Muelheim an der Ruhr.
The final victory brought the pair their sixth straight title since November last year.
The duo’s remarkable run began with a win at the Hylo Open, which was also held in Germany, before they made made a clean sweep of three season-ending tournaments in Indonesia.
Dechapol and Sapsiree then made history by becoming the first Thai players to win the mixed doubles world championship crown in Spain in December.
For Kunlavut, it was the 20-year-old Thai’s first BWF World Tour title, having previously already lost in finals three times in 2020-21 against
top-ranked Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.
The Thai, who defeated All
England Open champion Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the semi
finals, received US$13,500 (approx B445,500) for his victory in Germany.
Thai badminton chief Patama Leeswadtrakul said world No.20 Kunlavut could crack into the top 10 this year thanks to his technique, skill, discipline, hard work and determination.