Tough draw for Ratchanok

Tough draw for Ratchanok

Former world champion Ratchanok Intanon has been handed a tough draw at next month's All-England Open Championships.

The eighth-seeded Thai will start her campaign against Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the first round (last 32) of the women's singles at the March 3-8 tournament.

The Japanese, ranked 15th in the world, has beaten Ratchanok three times in five meetings.

Ratchanok, a finalist at the 2013 All-England, could meet top seed and world No.1 Li Xuerui of China in the quarter-finals.

Li could face Thailand's Nichaon Jindapon in the second round.

Porntip Buranaprasertsuk will meet Lindaweni Fanetri of Indonesia in the first round and could meet PV Sindhu of India or reigning world champion Carolina Marin of Spain in the second round.

If Busanan Ongbumrungpan beats Pai Yu Po of Taiwan, she will face world No.4 Sung Ji-Hyun of South Korea, who got a bye in the first round.

Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, the only Thai in the men's singles, will face Hsu Jen Hao of Taiwan in the first round with top seed Cheng Hong of China awaiting him in the next round. 

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