Ratcanok Powers Through Three-Game Battle to Edge Indonesian Opponent, Advances to Thailand Open Semis
World No. 7 Ratchanok Intanon survived a three-game thriller against Indonesia's Thalita Ramadani Virjiawati to reach the Thailand Open semifinals, while defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn advanced with a dominant straight-sets victory.
The Toyota Thailand Open 2026, a World Tour Super 500 badminton tournament, continued its second-round women's singles competition at Nimibutr Sports Building on May 14. World No. 7 'May' Ratchanok Intanon faced off against Indonesia's Thalita Ramadani Virjiawati, ranked 61st globally. Ratchanok needed all three games to secure victory, winning 2-1 with scores of 21-16, 19-21, and 21-15, earning a spot in the semifinals against Japan's Hina Agedzhi, world No. 28.
Former champion 'Mew' Pornpawee Chochuwong, ranked world No. 8, defeated Yataweemintr Ketukliang, world No. 136, decisively 2-0 with scores of 21-13 and 21-17. She will next face 'Pink' Pichayadon Opassanipat, world No. 27, who defeated India's Davika Sihag (world No. 40) 2-0 with scores of 23-21 and 21-11.
In women's singles, 'Cream' Busanan Ongbamrungphan, world No. 18, fell to Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, the top seed and world No. 3, in a close match 1-2 with scores of 12-21, 21-17, and 17-21, ending her tournament run at this stage.
In men's singles, Thailand's 'View' Kunlavut Vitidsarn, world No. 2 and defending champion, faced Chinese Taipei's Lee Chia Hao, ranked 36th. Vitidsarn showed stellar form, dispatching his opponent 2-0 with dominant scores of 21-11 and 21-13 to advance to the semifinals, where he will meet India's Lakshya Sen, world No. 11.
