Thai badminton stars Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Ratchanok Intanon reign supreme at Indonesia Masters
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Kunlavut Vitidsarn (left) and Ratchanok Intanon will be hoping to build on their victory at the Thailand Masters in Bangkok from Jan 28 to Feb 2.
PHOTOS: EPA-EFE
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JAKARTA – Reigning world badminton champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand defeated a higher-ranked player for the second time in a week as he tasted victory at the US$475,000 (S$640,000) Indonesia Masters on Jan 26.
Keeping his cool in the men’s singles final, the world No. 5 staged a comeback 18-21, 21-17, 21-18 win over home favourite and third-ranked Jonatan Christie, who was backed by a passionate crowd at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta.
Kunlavut, who won the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, had overcome world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China in the semi-finals.
“This win is very special,” said the 23-year-old, who had beaten Singapore’s Jason Teh in the quarter-finals.
Christie, meanwhile, was left to rue another luckless outing, after a first-round exit at the season-opening Malaysia Open and a semi-final defeat by eventual champion Viktor Axelsen at the India Open.
The 27-year-old said: “It was a tough three weeks in a row. It is not easy for me. Today, I am a little disappointed. I lost many points. I made many mistakes and it is what it is.
“(Kunlavut) tried to be more patient, he didn’t make mistakes and I made mistakes in the third game.”
The Thai ace said he did not think too much during the match.
“Christie is a top player. I just enjoyed the game and I still have a lot to learn from him,” said Kunlavut, after bagging US$35,625 for his victory in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 500 event. “I am really happy. After the Olympics, my performance was at a low level. Now I need to keep it up.”
Besides finishing runner-up to Axelsen in Paris, Kunlavut had reached the semi-finals seven times in last season’s BWF World Tour and won the Korea Masters in November.
Meanwhile, his compatriot, world No. 13 Ratchanok Intanon, defeated 26th-ranked Sim Yu-jin of South Korea 21-18, 21-17 in the women’s singles final for her first title since her Madrid Masters triumph in March 2024.
Ratchanok said ending her title drought gives her “power”, adding: “It is very good to win at the beginning of the year.
“My opponent today played well... I felt a little pressure when she came closer and I tried to be calm with my game.”
The 29-year-old, who had been battling heel and ankle injuries, said: “I am a bit more confident day by day. I feel good with my fitness after a long injury. That is why I feel like I am getting better from last time.”
The Thai duo, who are both products of the Banthongyord Badminton School, will be hoping to build on their victory at the Thailand Masters in Bangkok from Jan 28 to Feb 2.
The Jakarta crowd also witnessed a teary farewell ceremony for Indonesian men’s doubles pair Mohammad Ahsan, 37, and Hendra Setiawan, 40, who brought their glittering career to a close. The duo had claimed the BWF world championship titles thrice (2013, 2015, and 2019) and an All England crown in 2019.
But the crowd did not get to witness an Indonesian winner on Jan 26 after Malaysia’s Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun beat Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto 21-11, 21-19 in the men’s doubles final.
This is just the second time in the tournament’s history that there are no Indonesian champions. South Korea’s Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong won the women’s doubles, while Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito of Japan took the mixed doubles crown.
