Ratchanok begins quest in style

Ratchanok begins quest in style

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Ratchanok Intanon plays a shot during her first round match against Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi. (Badminton photo)
Ratchanok Intanon plays a shot during her first round match against Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi. (Badminton photo)

Ratchanok Intanon won her opening match at the BWF Malaysia Masters as the Thai star began her bid to become the women's singles winner for the third time.

Second seed Ratchanok, who is currently tied on two with India's Pusarla V Sindhu and China's Wang Zhiyi, defeated Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi of Indonesia 21-16, 21-16 in 36 minutes. She will play Kaloyana Nalbantova of Bulgaria next.

Ratchanok, who won the tournament in 2018 and 2019, is also bidding to become the second most successful singles player behind Malaysian icon Lee Chong Wei, who holds the record with five titles

Rising star Pitchamon Opatniputh joined her senior compatriot in the last 16 of the Super 500 tournament.

The 19-year-old had an impressive run to the semi-finals at the Thailand Open last week and she continued her fine form with a 21-10, 21-19 win over Tanvi Sharma of India in Wednesday's opener.

Busanan Ongbamrungphan failed to advance, losing to Goh Jin Wei of Malaysia 6-21, 21-16, 10-21 but men's singles hope Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul progressed with a 23-21, 21-12 win over Yoo Tae-Bin of South Korea.

The tournament lost its top mixed doubles duo after Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran retired during their first round match against Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.

Pakkapon and Sapsiree will face Bobby Setiabudi and Melati Daeva Oktavianti of Indonesia next.

Another mixed pair, Supak Jomkoh and Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn, came through their opening match against Julien Maio and Lea Palermo of France with a 12-21, 21-18, 21-12 win to face eighth seeds Gao Jiaxuan and Wei Yaxin of China next.

Women's doubles pair Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn and Sabrina Sophita Wedler claimed a big upset, knocking out fourth seeds Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe of Japan 21-17, 21-19.

However, men's doubles pair Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul bowed out, losing to sixth seeds Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard of Denmark 17-21, 14-21.

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