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It must have entered the minds of many people watching 17-year-old Ratchanok Intanon in action last night that, despite her narrow loss, this could be a future world champion in the making.

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Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon plays against China’s Wang Xin during the women’s singles badminton quarter-final match at the Wembley Arena. REUTERS

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Future champion?

It must have entered the minds of many people watching 17-year-old Ratchanok Intanon in action last night that this could be a future world champion in the making.

In fact, for much of the match it looked like she might even have a chance at Olympic gold this year.

She dominated world No. 2 Wang Xin for long stretches. After a shaky start, Ratchanok, or Nong Mei as she is known to Thais, played brilliantly to win the first set 21-17.

At the start of the second set she looked invincible, jumping to a 5 - 0 lead. Wang, a former World No 1 and Asian Games gold medalist, fought back, however, tying the match at 8-8.

That is when Ratchanok seemed to take complete control of the match, frustrating her opponent with her superb shot selection and surprising power.

At 16-10 in favour of the Thai, it looked the like the match was over.

It wasn't. Wang has something Ratchanok does not: experience. She changed her tactics and was quickly back in the match.

"The turning point was in the second set when Wang changed her serve tactics and that caused trouble for me," Ratchanok admitted after the match.

Ratchanok also began to visibly tire. She had suffered a minor injury during her Olympic preparation and this had shortened her physical conditioning.

Wang keep moving the young Thai around the court and soon Ratchanok had no answers for her attacks. Wang won the second set 21-18 and then breezed through the final 21-14.

Still, the future looks very bright for Ratchanok. Her 2012 Olympic experience should give her great confidence. She won two matches in the group stage and stunned sixth seed Juliane Schenk of Germany in the last 16 round.

Before the London Games, she said this Olympics might be too early for her but she has now proved she can play against some of the world's best players at the senior level.

"I hope I win a medal next time," Ratchanok said.

That is very possible.
 
Story includes information from a Bangkok Post story by Kittipong Thongsombat.

quarterfinal (or quarter-final) – a competition between two of the last eight competitors remaining in a tournament การแข่งขันก่อนรอบบรองชนะเลิศ
enter the mind – to get an idea; to think of something
dominate – to control, to be the most powerful or successful ครอบคลุม ควบคุม
stretch – a continuous period of time ช่วงเวลา
shaky – not stable or steady; having difficulties ไม่มั่นคง
brilliantly – in an extremely clever or impressive way อย่างฉลาดมาก, อย่างหลักแหลมม
invincible – too strong to be defeated or changed ซึ่งไม่อาจเอาชนะได้
tie – having the same number of points, rank, etc. ได้แต้มหรือคะแนนเท่ากัน
frustrate – to cause someone to feel annoyed and impatient because they are prevented from achieving something or can’t do anything about something ทำให้ข้องใจ
opponent – a person or team being competed against in a sports event คู่ต่อสู้
superb – of the highest quality ยอดเยีี่ยม
selection – choice; the procession choosing การเลือก,การคัดเลือก
in favour of – having an advantage, especially in a competition เป็นต่อ, ได้เปรียบ (เช่น ในการแข่งขัน)
experience – the knowledge and skill that you have gained through doing something for a period of time ประสบการณ์
tactic – a planned way of doing something ยุทธวิธี
turning point – a time when an important change takes place in a situation, especially one that makes it better จุดที่มีการเปลี่ยนแปลง
admit – to agree that something is true, especially when you are unhappy, sorry or surprised about it  ยอมรับ
visibly – in a way that is easily noticeable อย่างชัดแจ้ง, อย่างเห็นได้ชัด
tire – to become tired and feel as if you want to sleep or rest; to make somebody feel this way  เหนื่อย, หมดแรง
suffer – to experience something very unpleasant or painful ประสบ
minor – not important; small; having little influence or effect เล็กน้อย
injury – physical damage done to a person or a part of their body อาการบาดเจ็บ
physical condition – fitness; the state of being physically healthy and strong สมรรถภาพทางกาย,  ความแข็งแรงของร่างกาย
court – a place where games such as tennis or badminton are played สนามสำหรับเล่นกีฬา
breeze through – to do something successfully and easily ผ่านอย่างสบาย
confidence – being certain of your abilities or of having trust in people, plans, or the future ความมั่นใจ
group stage – the opening part of a tournament where the teams/players are put into groups and compete against other group members. The top teams/players (usually two) then go on to the next stage.
stun – to surprise or shock somebody so much that they cannot think clearly or speak ทำให้ตะลึงงัน,  ทำให้งง
seed – a competitor given a place on the list of those expected to win games in a particular competition because of the way they have played in the past ผู้ที่ถูกถูกจัดให้เป็นผู้แข่งขันชั้นนำ
senior level – the highest level in a competition ระดับสูงสุดในการแข่งขัน

Related search: Ratchanok Intanon, Olympic quarter-finals, Wang Xin