Staff Writer
An Se-young, the second-ranked player in the world in women’s singles badminton, defeated China’s He Bingjiao to win the Thailand Open final on Sunday in Bangkok.
The 21-year-old South Korean started off strong and played flawlessly the entire 21-10, 21-19 triumph in consecutive sets in the Thai capital.
global ranking five In the second game, which included some outstanding net play from both players, he battled back and briefly had a four-point lead.
But she was unable to stop the South Korean’s brilliantly assured performance.
He’s serve horribly failed to clear the net on match point, giving An her 15th world tour victory. An from Korea won the Thailand Open title.
The South Korean athlete is on a bit of a roll right now; she has advanced to the final of every competition she has participated in this year and has taken home victories in the All England Open, India, and Indonesia.
Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand defeated Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong by scores of 21-12, 21-10 in the men’s final, earning his nation its first gold medal of the day.
He is only the fourth Thai man to win this competition, and he gratefully thanks the jubilant throng that cheered him on the entire way.
The world number five, who defeated the number one player in the world, Viktor Axelson, at the Indian Open in January, played a commanding first game and was only momentarily concerned by an unsteady and inconsistent Lee.
The second game was started with a stunning deception by 22-year-old Vitidsarn, who threw the shuttlecock over the net to confuse his rival.
The 17th-ranked player in the world and the first medallist from Hong Kong in this competition attempted to come back with several tense rallies and strong slams, but Vitidsarn’s unwavering confidence held firm.
