SEA Games: Thailand, led by Asian champ Ratchanok, outclass hosts in badminton semis

Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand serving against Liang Xiaoyu of Singapore in their women's team badminton semi-final at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on June 11, 2015. -- PHOTO: AFP 
Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand serving against Liang Xiaoyu of Singapore in their women's team badminton semi-final at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on June 11, 2015. -- PHOTO: AFP 

SINGAPORE - Host Singapore's shuttlers were no match against the seasoned team from Thailand, losing 0-3 in the badminton women's team semi-finals at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

Liang Xiao Yu got off to a hopeful lead in the first singles but Thai star Ratchanok Intanon, fresh from winning the Indonesian Super Series last Sunday, soon beat her 21-17, 21-14.

Debuting as a pair, Vanessa Neo and Shinta Mulia Sari lost the first doubles 12-21, 19-21 to Thailand's Sapsiree Taerattanachai and Puttita Supajirakul after a close fight in the second set.

Grace Chua, 19 and making her Games debut, lost 6-21, 15-21 to Busanan Ongbumrungpan.

Said Ratchanok, who won the 2013 World Championships and is the current Asian champion: "I went in with a mentality that this was training and it helped me relax.

"In fact, I play that way for all my competitions now, like the Super series on Sunday - to play for experience.

"My goal is to perform at the Olympics (in Rio)."

yzchoo@sph.com.sg

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