Two-time world junior champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn became the first player from Thailand to claim the individual title at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Suzhou, China, yesterday.
It was a case of third time lucky for the 18-year-old Bangkok native, who finally laid his hands on the elusive title after he destroyed Chinese rival Liu Liang 21-14, 21-13 in the men's junior final at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Complex.
Kunlavut won the bronze medal in 2017 and the silver in 2018 when the championships were held in Bintaro, Jakarta, in Indonesia.
Kunlavut also defeated Liu during his triumphant run at last year's BWF world junior championships in Markham, Canada.
It was a gold Kunlavut was determined to add to the mixed team title Thailand won with a 3-2 victory over top seeds Indonesia in the final on Tuesday.
The two-gold haul by Thailand in Suzhou is the country's best in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships so far. Benyapa Aimsaard took bronze in the women's junior singles event after losing to eventual champion Zhou Meng of China in the semi-finals on Saturday.
"No words can describe my joy and happiness in winning the men's singles gold. It makes up for my disappointments in the past two years," said the top seeded Kunlavut.
"Suzhou has been good to me, more so when I won a double. This win will also serve and motivate me well for the coming world junior championships in Russia [Kazan] later this year.
"I want a hat-trick in the world junior," he added.
Kunlavut was satisfied with his performance in the final against fourth seed Liu.
"I played better today compared to my semi-final match [against Li Yunze of China] when I made too many mistakes. I took an aggressive approach in the final," he said.
"I was also highly motivated not to settle for anything less than the gold. It worked although my opponent had the support of the home fans."
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, congratulated the newly-crowned champion.
"I was so happy for him to be able to claim this historic victory," said Patama. "I'm confident he will do well at the world junior championships."
World No.47 Kunlavut will take part in the Thailand Open which is scheduled to begin tomorrow at Indoor Stadium Hua Mark. He will play Joo Ven Soong of Malaysia in the qualifying round. bangkok post/bwf