World champion Ratchanok Intanon and Boonsak Ponsana will lead the Thai squad at the Asian Games, the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) announced yesterday.
Ratchanok Intanon
Ratchanok will also play at the Uber Cup while Boonsak will spearhead the Thai team in the Thomas Cup, BAT president Patama Leeswadtrakul said.
The Thomas Cup for men and the Uber Cup for women will be held simultaneously in India from May 18-25.
The 17th Asian Games will be held in Incheon, South Korea from Sept 19-Oct 4. Ratchanok is seen as Thailand's best gold medal hope in badminton following her success at the 2013 World Championships in Guangzhou in August.
It will be her Asian Games debut in the singles, having won a silver in the women's team event at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
However, the 19-year-old has suffered a series of injuries and had a less than convincing spell this year.
She lost in the All-England semi-finals and has since taken a break for full recovery.
Other Thai players for the three events include Tanonsak Sanbomboonsuk, Maneepong Jongjit and Sudket Prapakamol on the men's side, and Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, Nochaon Jindapol and Busanan Ongbumrungpan in the women's competition.
Teenager Busanan will also lead Thailand at the World Junior Championships in Malaysia next month.