Badminton champ Ratchanok denied three-peat at Thailand Open

Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon hits a shot against China’s Chen Yufei during their women’s singles final match Sunday at the Thailand Open badminton tournament in Bangkok. Photo: Chalinee Thirasupa / AFP
Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon hits a shot against China’s Chen Yufei during their women’s singles final match Sunday at the Thailand Open badminton tournament in Bangkok. Photo: Chalinee Thirasupa / AFP

Former world champion and hometown favorite Ratchanok Intanon was denied a third Thailand Open badminton tournament title Sunday by Chinese top seed Chen Yufei, who defeated her 22-20, 21-18.

Taiwan shuttler Chou Tien-chen clinched the men’s singles title at the Thailand Open in a thrilling final against Hong Kong opponent Angus Ng Ka Long. Both players collapsed after third-seed Chou eked out victory 21-14, 11-21, 23-21 in a 67-minute match at Bangkok’s Indoor Stadium Huamark.

Ratchanok sets up all-Thai semi in Bangkok badminton

“I love you guys, thank you,” the 29-year-old winner told the crowd in an on-court interview.

In women’s doubles, Japanese seventh seeds Shiho Tanaka and Koharu Yonemoto fended off Du Yue and Li Yinhui, the eighth seeds from China, in three close games.

Unseeded Indian pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stunned Chinese third seeds Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen to win the men’s title.




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