Ratchanok has no answers to China's Jiang
Thai prodigy Ratchanok Inthanon's bid for backtoback wins ended with a straight set loss to China's Jiang Yanjiao in the Korea Open yesterday.
Three-time world junior champion Ratchanok’s exit in the second round of the women’s singles event meant there was no Thai player left in the competition.
Fresh from her triumph in the India Open last month, the world No 13 Ratchanok fought hard in the duel against the Chinese opponent, which lasted 38 minutes but found no answers to Jiang’ powerful smashes, going down 21-16 21-15.
Earlier, unseeded Maneepong Jongjit and Savitree Amitapoi could count themselves unfortunate to go out of the tournament after the Thai pair lost in a threeset thriller to Danish duo Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl 17-21 21-17 and 21-16.
It was the same story in the men’s doubles category when Maneepong Jongjit and Bodin Issara spurned a chance to cause what would have been the upset of the day against China’s No 1 seeded pair Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng. The Thais managed to win the first set but the Chinese found their rhythm to secure their passage into the quarterfinal round.
On Wednesday, world No 6 Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkum suffered a premature exit in the mixed doubles class, going down to the Japanese duo Shintaro Ikeda and Reiko Shiota in straight sets 21-17 21-13.
