Thailand Defeats Chinese Taipei to Reach Badminton Semis
Thailand's men's badminton team advanced to the Asian Games semifinals by defeating Chinese Taipei 3-1 in the quarterfinals, with world No. 2 Kunlavut Vitidsarn winning his singles match despite dropping the first game.
Thailand's men's badminton team advanced to the Asian Games semifinals after beating Chinese Taipei 3-1 in the quarterfinals at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Tuesday.
World No. 2 Kunlavut Vitidsarn put Thailand ahead after overcoming world No. 5 Chou Tien-chen 2-1 in the opening men's singles match. Kunlavut lost the first game 19-21 before fighting back to win the next two 21-16, 21-14.
Thailand extended its lead to 2-0 when world No. 36 Peeratchai Sukphun and Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul edged world No. 15 Yang Po-hsuan and Lee Jhe-huei 2-1 in the first men's doubles match. The Thai pair lost the opening game 16-21 but rallied to take the next two 22-20, 23-21.
Chinese Taipei pulled one point back in the second men's singles match after Thailand's world No. 17 Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul retired due to a back injury. Panitchaphon had won the first game 21-15 against world No. 23 Chia Yu-jen but retired while trailing 5-9 in the second game, reducing Thailand's lead to 2-1.
Thailand sealed the tie in the second men's doubles match, with world No. 54 Worrapol Thongsa-nga and Chalermpol Charoenkitamorn beating Liu Kuang-heng and Wang Chi-lin 2-1. The Thai pair lost the first game 13-21 before winning the next two 21-14, 21-14.
Thailand will face either Indonesia or Malaysia in the semifinals.
