Home2017Dream come true for Kunlavut as he becomes the first Thai to...

Dream come true for Kunlavut as he becomes the first Thai to win World Junior boys’ singles title

When Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn retained his Asian Junior Under-17 title at the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium in Yangon two weeks ago he had made known his dream to be a world champion.

And on Sunday the 16-year-old Kunlavut fulfilled his dream at the Among Rogo Arena in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in style – when he was crowned the new world junior champion after a come-from-behind 17-21, 21-15, 21-9 win over Malaysia's Leong Jun Hao.

The 18-year-old Jun Hao is the reigning Asian Junior (Under-19) champion. What made Kunlavut's victory all the more sweet is that he had lost to the Malaysian not once but twice in the Asian Under-19 meet in Bintaro, Jakarta in July.

Kunlavut is a product of Banthongyord Badminton School – the school that has been producing badminton champions, including Pattarasuda Chaiwan, who also retained her Asian Junior Under-17 title in Yangon.

One of Thailand's famous badminton coaches Udom Luangphetcharaporn is the head coach at Banthongyord Badminton School.

After the Asian Junior Under-17 championships in Yangon, Udom had predicted that "Thailand is good to win a medal in the world meet" and Kunlavut did not let him down. Pattarasuda, who also the top seed in the world meet, however, was beaten in the quarter-finals by China's Cai Yanyan.

There was also delight for hosts Indonesia as Gregoria Mariska nailed the girls' singles title on a day Indonesia also won the gold and the silver medal in the mixed doubles but there were no titles for China – who retained the mixed team title yet again.

Mariska was involved in a three-game battle with China's Han Yue – the Asian Junior Under-19 champion, before prevailing 21-13, 13-21, 24-22 in 64 minutes.

In the mixed doubles 11th seeds Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas Mentari upset compatriots and third seeds Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti 21-23, 21-15, 21-18.
Japan's fourth seeds Mahiro Kaneko-Yunosuke Kubota came out tops against China's Di Zijan-Wang Chang 21-14, 15-21, 21-13 to win the boys' doubles title while the women's doubles final saw second seeds Baek Ha-na-Lee Yu-rim coming back from a game down to beat Indonesia's fourth seeds Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto-Ribka Sugiarto 18-21, 21-11, 21-3.  

RESULTS (ALL FINALS)
Men's singles
Kunlavut Vitidsarn (THA) beat Leong Jun Hao (MAS) 17-21, 21-15, 21-9

Men's doubles
Mahiro Kaneko-Yunosuke Kubota (JPN) beat Di Zijan-Wang Chang (CHN) 21-14, 15-21, 21-13

Women's singles
Gregoria Mariska (INA) beat Han Yue (CHA) 21-13, 13-21, 24-22

Women's doubles
Baek Ha-na-Lee Yu-rim (KOR) beat Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto-Ribka Sugiarto (INA) 18-21, 21-11, 21-3

Mixed doubles
Rinav Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas Mentari (INA) beat Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (INA) 21-23, 21-15, 21-18
 

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular