Thais begin bids for Masters titles today

Thais begin bids for Masters titles today

Thai players pose ahead of the Thailand Masters.
Thai players pose ahead of the Thailand Masters.

The Kingdom aim to win at least three of five titles at the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters badminton tournament which begins at Bangkok's Nimibutr Gymnasium today.

Thailand coach Rexy Mainaky said he hoped Busanan Ongbamrungphan (women's singles), Bodin Issara and Nipitphon Phuangphuapet (men's doubles), and Bodin and Savitree Amitrapai (mixed doubles) would be successful in the US$120,000 Grand Prix Gold event.

"They should at least reach the finals," said the Indonesian, who was appointed coach of Thailand recently.

They are all top seeds in their categories.

World No.12 Busanan, who won the 2016 Indonesian Masters title, said Mainaky's training programme was fun.

"It is hard but also fun," said Busanan.

"We all are determined to go as far as possible."

Busanan will begin her campaign against Japan's Natsuki Nidaira, who is ranked No.121 in the world.

Although her opponent is ranked much lower than her, Busanan said she would not underestimate the Japanese.

"I aim to at least reach the quarter-finals," Busanan said.

Thailand will be without their top star Ratchanon Intanon, who is unfit, and Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, who is injured.

Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, champion at last year's Denmark Open, is the top seed in the men's singles event, which also features Qiao Bin of China, Sony Kuncoro of Indonesia, and Huang Yuxiang of China.

Badminton Association of Thailand secretary-general Nikorn Chamnankul said the BAT was well prepared to host the tournament.

He said he believed the event would be a success and could lead to the Badminton World Federation allowing Thailand to stage a higher-level tournament.

The tournament ends on Sunday. Tickets starting at 50 baht are available at Thai Ticket Major outlets and at the venue.

The Thailand Masters was launched last year in honour of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, a former national shuttler who won the team gold medal at the 2005 SEA Games.

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