Mae Rachanok Loses to Japanese Rival's Speed at Thailand Open, Surprised After 18 Years in the Tournament
World No. 7 Mae Rachanok Intanon was eliminated from the Thailand Open semifinals by Japan's Hina Akeshi, attributing her loss to her opponent's superior speed and timing while managing a lingering knee injury.
World No. 7 singles badminton player Mae Rachanok Intanon spoke following her elimination from the 2026 Thailand Open after losing to Japanese shuttler Hina Akeshi. The 31-year-old Thai player fell to world No. 28 Akeshi in straight sets, 13-21 and 21-16, ending her run in the semifinals.
After the match, Mae gave an interview acknowledging her defeat was due to her opponent's superior speed and well-prepared game strategy. "I'm usually the one controlling the game, but today I have to admit that her speed, timing, and technique were superior. Meeting her for the first time also played a role. I wasn't in as good condition as her, and her play style was much tighter. She aimed for areas where my knee injury concerned me, which affected my shot quality. Eventually she got bolder with her timing. My knee injury requires considerable recovery time, and I'm currently undergoing treatment while working on my fitness. Competing here gave me confidence that I still belong on this stage, and I'm happy to be playing. Facing real match situations reminds me I need to take better care of myself and regain my fitness."
Mae also reflected on her 18-year history competing in the Thailand Open, hinting she'll return next year. "I'm surprised I've been playing this for 18 years already. If you count it, I was 14 or 15 when I started—a very long time. Some fans joke that I'm still young, but my knee definitely isn't young anymore. I wanted to share Mae's story today. I'm not here to set records for competition frequency; I know my body's limits. I'd rather focus on my own journey. I hope next year I can do better than this year."
