Following a good start, the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) has raised its target to two gold medals.
Sapsiri Taerattanachai, left, and Maneepong Jongjit. PHOTOS BY PATIPAT JANTHONG
"Our officials are confident that we will win more than one gold," BAT president Patama Leeswadtrakul said yesterday after Thai shuttlers had good results in the opening stages.
The BAT originally eyed one gold in the women's singles but it now also pins its hope on mixed doubles pair Sapsiri Taerattanachai and Maneepong Jongjit who yesterday upset second seeds Riky Widianto and Richi Puspita of Indonesia 19-21, 24-22, 21-17 in the quarter-finals.
"We hope to reach the final," said Sapsiri who is playing in her third SEA Games.
In the semi-finals, the duo will take on Malaysia's Aik Quan Tan and Pei Jing Lai.
"They are not as tough as the Indonesian pair," said Sapsiri.
The pair could meet their compatriots in the final as Nipitphon Puangpuapech and Puttita Supajirakul also cruised into the last four with a 21-14, 21-4 win against Leng Sophetra and Ker Pichchhhoravy of Cambodia.
Nipitphon and Puttita will meet top seeds Rizal Muhammad and Debby Susanto of Indonesia in the semi-finals.
In the women's singles quarter-finals, Busanan Ongbumrungphan took an easy 21-11, 21-18 win over Aprillia Yusawandari of Indonesia while Nichaon Jindapol beat Thu Huyen Le of Vietnam 21-10, 21-10.
Top seed Nichaon will face Manuputty Bellaetrix of Indonesia while second seed Busanan will take on Vu Thi Trang of Vietnam in the semi-finals.
"Although I have played in several professional tournaments, this one is a great tournament," said Nichaon.
In the men's singles quarter-finals, second seed Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk beat Tun Myo Min of Myanmar but Suppanyu Avihingsanon got injured during his match against top seed Tien Minh Nguyen of Vietnam.
In all Thailand have reached the semi-finals in four out of five events.
Busanan Ongbumrungphan.