Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul, Thai men's doubles pair ranking is currently 79. They have never won or experienced performing at a high level tournament such as the All England, Indonesia Open, or Malaysia Open.
However, they have proven themselves as an MD pair that you can’t just mess around with. At the 2023 SEA Games, Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul made a big surprise. Both of them defeated the first seed from Indonesia Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana in two straight games 21-12, 21-19 at Morodok Techo Badminton Hall, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Monday local time (15/5/2023).
Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana were at the top spot to win gold because they have the highest ranking (#14) out of all participants. In addition, both of them have also won the All England in 2022. Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul victory in the semifinals leads them to meet an Indonesian pair in the finals: Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Rambitan, who were seeded in second place, won two games 21-16, 21-18 over Singapore's representative Nge Joo Jie/Johann Prajogo.
Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul's match with Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Rambitan in the final will be their second meeting. Previously, the two pairs faced off in Round 16 of the Thailand Masters 2023. The results of the match which was held in Bangkok on 2 February 2023 was won by Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Rambitan with two straight games 22-20, 21-13.
In terms of ranking, Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Rambitan are still in the lead. However, seeing the performance of Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul who are currently on fire, it is possible for the pair to beat the pair and to win gold.
Thailand has confirmed a gold medal in the women's team and women's singles. In the women's singles, Lalinrat Chaiwan, the first seed, will face Supanida Katethong, the second seed. Both of them qualified for the final after defeating Indonesian representatives. Lalinrat Chaiwan, ranked 23rd, defeated Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi, ranked 52nd, with 21-14, 21-18. Meanwhile, Supanida Katethong, ranked 24th, defeated Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo, 21-11, 21-10. Even though they are from the same country, it turns out that Lalinrat Chaiwan and Supanida Katethong have never met in an official international championship.
One-country finals also occur in men's singles and women's doubles. In men's singles, two Indonesian representatives, Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo, the first seed, will meet Christian Adinata, the second seed. In the semifinals, Chico, ranked 19th in the world, defeated Lee Shun Yang from Malaysia, ranked 95th in the world, in two games 21-15, 21-18. Christian Adinata, ranked 59th, won 21-19, 21-12 over Leong Jun Hao, who is also from Malaysia, ranked 64th. The victory avenged Christian Adinata's defeat to the same opponent in the 2019 Malaysia International Challenge.
Interestingly, Chico and Christian also have never met in an international event despite coming from the same country. However, Chico is favored to win because he has a higher ranking and is more senior who is full of experience in competing.
Indonesia's gold is also certain to be won from the women's doubles. The two pairs, Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/ Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi and Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari/Rachel Allessya Rose both made it to the final. Both also occupy the first and second seeds. In the semifinals, both pairs beat the Malaysian pair. Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma / Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi won Lee Xin Jie / Low Yeen Yuan, ranked 257th, with a striking score of 21-9, 21-9. And Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari / Rachel Allessya Rose defeated Cheng Su Hui / Cheng Su Yin, ranked 86th, with 21-10, 21-17.
In the mixed doubles, the top seed Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati, will be challenged by the unseeded pair from Malaysia Yap Roy King/Cheng Su Yin. (*)
