View Kulvuthi Takes Loss to Antonsen Better – Apologizes to Fans for Failed Championship Defense
World No. 2 badminton player View Kulvuthi lost to Denmark's Anders Antonsen in the Toyota Thailand Open final, failing to defend his title at home. The Thai player acknowledged his opponent's superior net play and apologized to fans for th
World No. 2 badminton singles player View Kulvuthi opened up after losing to Anders Antonsen in the men's singles final of the Toyota Thailand Open 2026. Kulvuthi faced a rematch with Denmark's world No. 3 Antonsen in this tournament's final, the same player he lost to 1-2 in last year's championship, missing out on defending his title this year. The 25-year-old badminton player acknowledged that his opponent had many advantages today, particularly in playing aggressively at the net, and apologized to fans for not successfully defending his championship.
"Playing at home comes with pressure. I wanted to defend the championship—playing in Thailand is an opportunity to perform at my best, but today I couldn't pull it off. I want to thank the fans and apologize for not being able to defend and win the championship in my own country," Kulvuthi said. "Antonsen changed the game in the second match. He came up and pressured at the net, and in the second set we were playing downwind with easy scoring opportunities or giving him chances. We couldn't handle that pressure. We need to go back and learn more.
"We have to give him credit today—he played well in both his game style and problem-solving. He performed much better than us, which is fitting because he's top-level. But we still need to keep learning. If we encounter situations like this and still can't solve them, while he can adjust his game, that's the difference. Today was a pretty good match—both of us fought hard, but he did it better than me. Obviously the winner performs better.
"The main lesson today is that our net game fell short. He came to the net while we weren't brave enough. His determination was obviously fitting for a champion. When we lack that determination, it becomes a disadvantage down the stretch.
"In the next two tournaments, I'll play with full effort because my main goals this year are winning the World Championship and the Asian Games. For the remaining tournaments I compete in, I'll try to perform well and gain experience. I want to thank the fans and apologize that I couldn't defend and win the championship in my home country. I hope that next year I'll come back stronger, and I hope to see the fans supporting me and all Thai athletes."
