Thailand proved on Friday that it has a pool of fine badminton players when Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Kittinupong Ketlen won the men’s doubles title at the World Junior Championships in Malaysia.
Thai badminton chief Patama Leeswadtrakul, centre, is flanked by Dechapol Puavaranukroh, right, and Kittinupong Ketlen at Suvarnabhumi airport on Saturday..
It was Thailand’s first men’s doubles title at the event after Ratchanok Intanon won the women’s singles crown three times in a row from 2009-2011 and Maneepong Jongjit and Rojana Jutabandit took the mixed doubles title in 2009.
Dechapol and Kittinupong defeated Japan’s Masahide Nakata and Katsuki Tamate 21-16, 21-18 in just 35 minutes in the final.
In the mixed team event, Thailand, led by Busanan Ongbumrungphan, took the bronze medal — the third time the country finished third.
“It’s beyond our expectations,” said Kittinupong, who is in his final year to play at the junior level.
“It’s a good farewell to the junior level. I did not feel under pressure because reaching the final was already good enough for me.’’
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, praised all concerned parties for the success.
“Their achievement helps promote our country,” said Patama.
“It shows that we have several good players to represent the country in the future. They will from now train with the national B side.’’
Patama will give the medallists a total of 330,000 baht.
Dechapol and Kittinupong will each receive 100,000 bath while the 13-player team will get 130,000 baht. Dechapol and Kittinupong will also get 200,000 each from the National Sports Development Fund.
Thailand’s next tournament is the Badminton Asia Championships in South Korea this week, followed by the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup in India from May 18-25.
“In the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup, we hope to reach the quarter-finals in both events,’’ said Patama.
“As for the Asian championships, I believe our players will do well.”
Busanan, who is in her final year at the junior level, could only reach the quarter-finals at the Malaysia tournament although she was seeded second.
“It was my last chance to play at the World Junior Championships and I put too much pressure on myself,” she said.
Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi came back from one game down to successfully defend the women’s singles title by beating He Bing Jiao of China 14-21, 21-18, 21-13.
Lin Gui Pu of China beat compatriot Shi Yuqi to win the men’s singles title.
China’s Chen Qingchen and Huang Kaixiang won in the mixed doubles while compatriots Jia Yi Fan and Chen took the women’s doubles crown.