Ratchanok back after four years at Princess Sirivannavari Masters

Ratchanok back after four years at Princess Sirivannavari Masters

By THE NATION

Thai badminton ace Ratchanok Intanon will return to the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters for the first time in four years along with other big names for the BWF World Super 300 event in January.

Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand

Ratchanok, the current world No 5, who won the inaugural edition back in 2016, is among mega stars committed to competing in the home tournament at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium from January 21-26.

The 24-year-old former world champion, who has two 500 level titles this year in Malaysia and India, will be joined by former world No 1 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, world No 9 An Se-young of South Korea, former world No 1 Saina Nehwal of India, Indonesian rising star Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and defending champion Fitriani Fitriani of Indonesia.

“As the cut off for the Olympics is due on April 26 next year, players are trying to book their spots for the Games. That’s why we have a strong field for the 2020 tournament,” said Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand.

Apart from Ratchanok, 2017 champion Busanan Ongbumrungpan and 2018 winner Nitchaon Jindapol as well as 2018 finalist Pornpawee Chochuwong will pose local challenges for the women’s singles trophy of Princess Sirivannavari.

On the men’s side, Thailand will be represented by World Championships bronze medalist and world No 13 Kantaphon Wangcharoen, world No 25 Sitthikom Thamasin and three-time world junior champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

Olympic champions Lin Dan and Chen Long of China are among international stars, other than world No 9 Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong, No 10 Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan, the 2018 Thailand Open winner and No 14 Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia.

The world No 4 mixed doubles pair of Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai will try to lift up their home title together after losing two finals -- in 2017 and 2019. But they will face a stiff challenge from world No 3 Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino and No 9 Hafiz Faizal and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja of Indonesia.

The 2016 women’s doubles gold medallists Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi and world No 1 Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan will also be in action in January.

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30379596