Nanning: Former world champion Ratchanok Intanon defeated teenage sensation World No. 50 An Se Young 21-15, 21-17 in the women’s singles match to clinch the Sudirman Cup quarter-final victory for Thailand and eliminated the defending champions Korea.
Thailand’s World No. 4 mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai gave their country the first point by outlasting Seo Seung-Jae/Chae Yu-Jung 21-18, 21-18.
The 20-year-old Kantaphon Wangcharoen then extended Thailand’s lead to 2-0 when he registered a 21-17, 21-17 win over Heo Kwang-Hee in the men’s singles match.
However, Kang Min-Hyuk/Kim Won-Ho kept Korea in the contention by beating Tinn Isriyanet/Kittinupong Kedren 19-21, 21-17, 21-14 in a grueling 63-minute men’s doubles match.
World No. 7 Ratchanok Intanon didn’t not give An Se Young any chances of repeating what she did on Wednesday by beating World No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan. The Thai badminton queen was all-out attack with steep smashes and net coverage that ultimately killing any weak returns from An. Intanon’s brilliant performance was enough for her to tame the 17-year-old An 21-15, 21-17 and led her team into the semi-final.
As for the China-Denmark tie, Viktor Axelsen was able to deny a clean sweep from China by picking up his fourth victory in his 16th career meeting against Chen Long of China, winning 21-11, 21-18. Other than the men’s singles match, Denmark went down to China in the mixed doubles, men’s doubles, and women’s singles events.
China will face Thailand in the semi-finals on Saturday.
