On the 12th of January 2021, after the better part of a year passed us by, we finally had competitive badminton back in our lives in the shape of the Thailand Open 2021. In the current climate, many of us haven’t been able to play for months. However, watching the professionals doing what they do best, I’m sure helped to ease some of the withdrawals symptoms! Although it may not be us on court just yet, at least we have some of the best in the world showing us how it’s done.
Entries
Despite the ongoing pandemic, there was no shortage of talent on offer. The obvious omissions of powerhouses China and Japan may have been a disappointment for some. But this spelt opportunity for many shuttlers aiming for their first title of 2021. Big names such as Victor Axelsen, Tai Tzu Ying, Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan among others were all present to take centre stage. And of course, Ratchanok Intanon, competing on home soil was always going to be one to watch.
Mens Singles
With Kento Momota out of the picture, both Denmark and Indonesia had a good chance of a gold medal in Victor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen and Johnathan Christie and Anthony Ginting respectively. However, Antonesen fell early (and perhaps unexpectedly) to veteran Liew Daren of Malaysia in the first round. Meanwhile, Viktor was having no such problems, sailing through all his matches to the semi-finals in two straight games. It was there that he would meet Anthony Ginting. This was a thrilling game which he would win after three hard-fought sets.
In the bottom half of the draw, eyes were on Chou Tien Chen and Lee Zii Jia, culminating in the quarter-final people were expecting. However, the Malaysian couldn’t keep up with Chou’s attacking play. However, it would be Ng Ka Long in the semi-finals that would find a way around Chou’s game. A finalist few would have bet on.
The men’s singles final was a bit of a master class from Axelsen who looked to be in top form. Hitting more clean winners than perhaps one would expect in a men’s singles final. Ng Ka Long responded in kind, hitting some outright winners himself. But he wasn’t able to manoeuvre Viktor out of position enough to really push him. Viktor seemed pretty stable the whole match which saw him follow up his All England Title last March with a win in Thailand.
Women’s Singles
All Thailand would have been rooting for former World Champion Ratchanok Intanon. She had tough competition, with Tai Tzu Ying, PV Sindu, Carolina Marin and young prodigy An Se-young all vying for the title. Carolina and Tai Tzu Ying both had a fairly straight forward route to the final. Tai Tzu Ying confirming her place in the final with a quarter final win over number 8 seed Michelle Li and a semi-final victory over Mia Blichdeldt – who took down PV Sindu in the first round.
Meanwhile, Ratchanok Intanon would eventually fall to the young South Korean An Se-young in the quarterfinals. Se-young showed a maturity of the game beyond her years securing a close first close game (22-20) and the second 21-12. Throughout the match, she was able to consistently outmanoeuvre the Thai player and forced her into a number of errors. The game was not without its fair share of unique shots either!
Se-young would eventually fall to the current Olympic champion Carolina Marin in the Semi Finals.
A titan of a match was expected between the deceptive queen Tai Tzu Ying and the fierce Carolina Marin. However, Tai Tzu Ying looked out of sorts most of the match thanks to the pace at which Carolina Marin was playing. We’re so used to seeing Tai use her deception and racket skills to control the rallies. But Carolina was not giving her any time to do so, instead of playing straight forward attacking badminton to keep the pressure on her opponent. The left-hander playing not unlike a young Lin Dan! Carolina secured the title 21-9, 21-16.
Men’s Doubles
The doubles court was missing the usual showmanship of Kevin Sukamulijo and Marcus Gideon after Kevin tested positive for Covid. However, the dependable Daddies Ahsan and Setiawan were present, along with Olympic Silver medalists Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong and the tenacious Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin of Chinese Taipei.
While Ahsan and Setiawan proved their experience was more than enough to take down young Indian pair Rankireddy and C Shetty, who themselves had secured a big win over Lee Yong Dae and Kim Gi-jung, they fell at the hands of another young Korean pair Choi and Seo.
Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong seemed to be on a mission of proving themselves. Having dispatched two of their compariot pairs, including 8 seeds Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, they promptly dealt with a young Indonesian pair (Carnando and Marthin) to secure their place in the finals.
In the bottom half of the draw, it was the Chinese Taipei pair that came through to the finals, notably beating Astrup and Rasmussen in the first round.
In the finals, Wang was hitting hard in the first game. This was complemented by Lee in the front court. They led the whole game, claiming the first set. The Malaysian’s weren’t able to effectively counter-attack or play their usual style. In the second game, to the dismay of Chinese Taipei, they hit a shot which bounced off the net cord and landed out on match point! The Malaysian’s were able to rally after their stroke of luck to take the second game. The third game was close but you could sense Wang and Lee having the edge with sharper attacking play. And they were rewarded with bringing back the Thailand Open title to Taiwan.
Women’s Doubles
With the Japanese out of the picture, three of the top 8 seeds had withdrawn. Of the remaining 5, three were Korean. So pretty good chances of a Gold medal – but it’s still every pair for themselves!
However, it was Kititharakul and Prajongjai that turned their home advantage into a finals spot. They had somewhat of an uneventful path to the semi-finals, winning all their matches in two straight games. In the semi-finals, they faced the Koreans So-yeong and Hee-yong (number 4 seeds). With the Koreans holding the head to head record 3-2, the match went right to the wire in the third game.
Rahayu and Polii of Indonesia had a similar run to the finals, meeting the other Korea pair of So-hee and Seung-chan. Despite the Koreans taking the first game, the Indonesian’s fought back to win the semi-final 15-21, 21-15, 21-16.
Thailand were in one of two finals. In the women’s doubles, Kititharakul and Prajongjai were looking to claim their first Thailand Open title. But it wasn’t to be as Polii and Rahayu looked totally dominant from the outset, with Polii really taking charge of the front court and Rahayu able to compliment her partner’s efforts. Winning in two straight games with relative ease, it was an emotional moment for Polii, who had recently lost her older brother. And that emotion was clear on court after the winning point and no doubt that victory was in honour of him.
Mixed Doubles
Home hopefuls Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai had some high expectations to meet going into the tournament as number one seeds. And they didn’t disappoint, seeing off stiff competition from two Malaysian pairs of Hoo and Cheah in the first round and Goh and Lai in the second. Another Malaysian pair, Olympic silver medalists Goh and Chan, stood in their way in the quarter-finals – however, they came through this in two straight games.
In the semi-finals they took down Seung-jae and Yoo-jung of Korea in three games, just edging ahead in the last game to win 22-20.
The other finalists, the seasoned Praveen Jordan and partner Oktavianti were dominant in their run-up to the semi-finals. However, they found trouble against quickly improving French pair Gicquel and Delrue. The French put up a solid fight against the Indonesians, saving three match points in the second game.
The mixed doubles had an exciting prospect for Thailand, with the number one seeds. It was clear in the first game who was dominant, with the Thai pair of Puavaranukroh and Taerattanachai taking the first game 21-3! Jordan and Oktavianti just did not seem to be in the game at all. It was in the second game we really started to see Jordans powerful smashes coming through, setting up his partner. He also showed some graceful racket skills to win outright points. The second and third game was much more like the match we would have expected. But it was Thailand who would come away victorious. This ended a 12-year wait to have a Thai pair as mixed doubles champions.
Yeah Beginners Badminton games are back with Alot of junior players
Right. at this time lot of players present