At the junior level, Kunlavut Vitidsarn held a prestigious status. The Thai player who was born in Bangkok on 11 May 2001 won the junior world championships 3 times in 2017, 2018, and 2019. It’s an achievement no other male player have ever done before.
As he transitioned to the senior tournament, Vitidsarn only got to win small tournaments. After graduating the junior level, he has never become a champion. The highest he reached was the runner up position at the Spain Masters 2020 and Swiss Open 2021.
Today, the chance to become a champion arises and it’s in a prestigious event: the BWF World Tour Finals 2021. Vitidsarn got his ticket to the final after winning over Lee Zii Jia from Malaysia in a straight game 21-18, 21-18 at the semifinal that was held yesterday.
However, it will be a tough challenge. Vitidsarn, currently ranked #23, will meet the world’s #1 Viktor Axelsen from Denmark. Axelsen made it to the final round after beating Indian player Lakshya Sen in a straight game 21-13, 21-11.
With his self-confidence soaring high at the moment, Vitidsarn is expected to give a fight that results in victory as it will prove that he’s not only superior at the junior level.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles, P.V. Sindhu, the third seed from India, made it to the finals after defeating Akane Yamaguchi from Japan in a tough rubber game 21-15, 15-21, 21-19. This victory widens the gap in the record of their meetings into 13-8 with Sindhu leading.
To win the title tonight, Sindhu, who won a silver medal at Rio 2016 Olympic and a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 Olympic, has to defeat An Seyoung from Korea. An Seyoung who isn’t seeded at the BWF World Tour Finals, won a straight game 25-23, 21-17 over Pornpawee Chochuwong, the first seed from Thailand.
Previously, Sindhu and An Seyoung had met twice and both meetings were won by An Seyoung. Interestingly, both meetings happened in the same event, the Denmark Open, in 2019 and in 2021. The 19-year-old Korean player is currently on fire after winning the Indonesia Masters 2021 and Indonesia Open 2021 consecutively.
In the men’s doubles, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo is making their way to their peak performance. The pair made it to the final round of all three events that’s held in Bali: the Indonesia Masters, Indonesia Open, and BWF World Tour Finals. However, they won at the Indonesia Open but lost in the Indonesia Masters. In all three finals, they face the same opponent: Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi from Japan.
The Minions made it to the final round after defeating Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist Lee Yang/Wang Chi-lin in a rubber game 18-21, 23-21, 21-17. On the other hand, Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi defeated Malaysian pair Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi in a straight game 21-18, 21-15. Today’s final will be the 13th meeting between the Minions and Hoki/Kobayashi with 11 victories on the Minions’ side.
Other Olympic gold medalists who couldn’t make it to the final are women’s doubles Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu. The Indonesian representatives lost 14-21, 21-31, 21-13 from Japanese pair Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida. This loss made their meeting records turn into 2-2. At the final round, Matsuyama/Shida will face Korean pair Kim Soyeong/Kong Hee-yong. In their two previous meetings, Soyoeng/Hee-yong won the game.
Lastly, in the mixed doubles, another final for Thailand pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanahai. This is their third final in Bali, Indonesia. In the semifinal, they defeated Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist Chang Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying in a straight game 21-8, 21-18. To win their 3rd title after Indonesia Masters and Indonesia Open, the Thai pair will have to face Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino from Japan. Watanabe/Higashino made it to the finals after being stretched in a rubber game 19-21, 21-9, 21-19 by Hongkong’s Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet.
In their previous five meetings, Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino had won all but one tournament. It was at the Indonesia Open 2021 when Watanabe/Higashino had to acknowledge Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai’s power.