Thailand head to Jogjakarta for the world junior championships with confidence after top seeds and defending champions Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Pattarasuda Chaiwan retained their Under-17 boys' and girls' singles titles respectively in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yangon Sunday.
Kunlavut started the ball rolling for the Thais when he handed Malaysia's Jhy Dar a 21-6, 21-8 thrashing on Court 1.
Soon after Pattarasuda stepped onto the same court and the lanky Thai who won the silver medal in this year's Badminton Asia Under-19 Championships in Bintaro, Jakarta, gunned down Japan's Riko Gunji with an easy 21-5, 21-15 win to retain her title.
"I would not have asked for anything better in Yangon to boost my confidence for the world meet," said Kunlavut who is hoping to finish on the podium in world championships.
In the same breath Kunlavut was quick to say "I want to be the world champion. That is what I want. I am very happy to retain my Asian title (Under-17) but the celebrations can take a back seat as I switch my focus to the world meet."
Pattarasuda was jubilant with her win and said the easy win in Yangon does not mean that it will be the same in the world championships.
"Of course it is nice to retain my Under-17 title…it sort of gives me the confidence to face the challenge in Jogjakarta. My country will be counting on Kunlavut and me to win a medal and we hope to achieve that," said Pattarasuda.
The boys' Under-15 final was a thriller all the way and the fighting display of the two-finalists – Japan's Riki Takei (5th seed) and Thailand's third seed Puritat Arree saw some of the best badminton from the two young talent.
The 75-minute match showed the intensity of the match and in the end it was Takei who came off the winner – coming back from a game down for a 13-21, 21-17, 21-16 win and the title. The match kept the supporters on the edge of their seats.
The girls' Under-15 singles final was not short of the badminton talent. India's No 3 seed Samiya Imad Farooqui also came back from a game down to outlast Indonesia's unseeded Stephani Widjaja.
Samiya – cheered on by a large Indian crowd at the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium won a nail-biting 56-minute final 15-21, 21-17, 21-19 to give India their only title in the championships.
ALL FINALS
UNDER 17
MEN
Singles
Kunlavut Vitidsarn (THA) beat Ooi Jhy Dar (MAS) 21-6, 21-8
Doubles
Cheng Kai Wen-Chiu Yuh Hong (TPE) beat Jacky Kok Jing Hong-Ooi Jhy Dar (MAS) 21-18, 21-16
WOMEN
Singles
Pattarasuda Chaiwan (THA) beat Riko Gunji (JPN) 21-5, 21-15
Doubles
Putri Larasati-Melanni Mamahit (INA) beat Kelly Larissa-Shelandry Vyola (INA) 21-14, 21-15
Mixed Doubles
Ko Shing Hei-Yeung Pui Lam (HKG) beat Leo Rolly Carnando-Metya Inayah Cindiani (INA) 21-10, 21-19
UNDER 15
MEN
Singles
Riki Takei (JPN) beat Puritat Arree (THA) 13-21, 21-17, 21-16
Doubles
Muhammad Fazriq Mohamad Razif-Ong Zhen Yi (MAS) beat Lin Hao-chi-Wen Sheng Hao (TPE) 21-16, 21-16
WOMEN
Singles
Samiya Imad Farooqui (IND) beat Stephani Widjaja (INA) 15-21, 21-17, 21-19
Doubles
Pornpicha Choeikeewong-Pornnicha Suwatananodom (THA) beat Kittaporn Jiantanet-Sasikarn Piyawatcharavijit (THA) 21-11, 23-21
Mixed doubles
Muhammad Ridwanul Arifin-Fadillah Nur Hidayah (NA) beat Wisa Srisuriya-Pornnicha Suwatanodom (THA) 22-20, 21-16
