wang.yihan
Wang Yihan

# Ratchanok thanks Malaysian fans for their support

# Ratchanok registers her first win over Wang Yihan in 13 outings to make the final

# Final against ‘good friend’ Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan

 

By Rizal Abdullah

Thai badminton sensation Ratchanok Intanon’s staged a late fightback in the second set for a sensational 21-19, 21-13 win over China’s Wang Yihan to march into the women’s singles final in the USD550,000 Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open SuperSeries Premier.

And the 21-year-old Thai badminton darling will remember the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam for two things – the tremendous fan support that made her win possible and for her first win in 13 outings against Yihan.

In the final on Sunday, the Thai ace will meet her ‘good friend’ Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan who upset third seed Saina Nehwal of India 21-19, 21-13 in 34 minutes.

“Whether I win the final or not does not matter. But should I claim the title, I will certainly cherish the fans and this stadium. I have never beaten Yihan in my previous meetings,” said a happy Ratchanok afterwards.

“Before the match I was still haunted by past defeats. I took the court without pressure. The pressure was on Yihan. I also thought of how to unlock Yihan’s game.

“I was mentally prepared and was helped by my fitness and overall performance here, I was ready to make it count this time around. I was not going to take another defeat. The win is very motivating for me.”

This is Ratchanok’s second final in two weeks, having won the Yonex Sunrise India Open Superseries in New Delhi.

Next week she will head south of Kuala Lumpur for the Singapore Open SuperSeries. She will also compete in the Asian Badminton Championships.

In the meantime, Tzu Ying was also thankful to the Malaysian fans who made her ‘feel at home’ in her win over Nehwal.

“This is the first time I got such fan support when playing Saina. In the past Saina used to have more support in the stands,” said Tzu Ying.

 

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

WOMEN’S SINGLES

Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe) beat Saina Nehwal (Ina) 21-19, 21-13

Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) beat Wang Yihan (Chn) 21-11, 21-19

- Advertisement -