Singapore: Reigning Asian champion Ratchanok Intanon lived up to the expectations of the Thai fans as she shepherded Thailand to the women’s team title at the 28th SEA Games yesterday.
Ratchanok Intanon, centre, and teammates celebrate their triumph in the women’s final.
In the final, Thailand handed a convincing 3-0 rout to Malaysia to successfully defend the title they had captured at the 2011 edition in Indonesia. It was the fifth women's team title for Thailand in the biennial tournament with the country's other three successes coming in 1965, 1971 and 2005. The event was not contested at the last edition in Myanmar two years ago.
Thailand were put in front by former world champion Ratchanok, who beat Lim Yin Fun 21-13, 21-14, and they made it 2-0 with ease by claiming the doubles battle. The pair of Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai defeated Amelia Anschelly and Cho Soong 22-10, 21-18.
Busanan Ongbumrungpan completed the whitewash with a 21-8, 21-15 win over Yen Mei Ho.
World No.5 Ratchanok, who will not play in the individual event, admitted she was under pressure because she was expected to win the opening tie for the team.
“I did not play well at the start because of the pressure I felt,” said the 20-year-old, who also won the team event in the 2011 Games in Indonesia. “I recovered through the support from the team. They told me to relax and try to play my own game.”
Busanan, the world No.18 who is making her second appearance in the tournament but first in the team event, said winning the gold was a big boost for her before the start of her campaign for the individual crown.
“I am happy with my first gold medal in the SEA Games,” she said.
Coach Sompol Kookasemkijt said it all went as planned because the team was strong but it would be tough in the women’s singles event, which starts today.
Unfortunately, the men’s team, who made it to the final for the first time since 2003, was edged 3-2 by Indonesia in the showdown.
Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk took the first rubber for the team by beating Christie Jonatan 2-0 before Indonesia fought back with a win in the doubles clash.
Ricky Karandasuward and Angga Pratama defeated Bodin Issara and Nipitphon Phuangphuapet in straight sets.
Thailand regained the lead after Boonsak Ponsana beat Firma Abdul Kholik and Indonesia made it 2-2, thanks again to their doubles pair.
Kevin Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi scored a 2-1 win over Wannawat Ampunsuwan and Pakkawat Vilailuck.
In the decider, Suppanyu Avihingsanon lost to Maulana Mustofa 2-1.
Capturing the silver was an improvement over the team bronze medal bagged in Indonesia in 2011.
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, gave the women's team one million baht for the gold medal while the men’s team received 500,000 baht.
The gold medallists will also be rewarded with 200,000 baht each and the silver medallists 100,000 baht each from the National Sports Development Fund.
There are five more gold medals at stake in badminton and Thailand’s best hopes are in the singles events. Busanan and defending men's champion Tanongsak are top seeds.