Taipei Times
Date: May 26, 2018
By: AFP, BANGKOK
China’s star shuttlers are to be tested by Thailand’s dark-horse women’s team and
Tai Tzu-ying returns to Akane Yamaguchi during their singles quarter-final at the Thomas and Uber Cup in Bangkok on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Indonesia’s men in the last four of the Uber and Thomas Cups, with Japan also grabbing spots in both semi-finals after a dramatic knockout stage on Thursday.
The prestigious biennial event has brought together 16 top teams from five continents for a week of intense competition in Bangkok for the men’s Thomas Cup and the women’s Uber Cup.
The day’s most exhilarating moment came when Thailand’s women edged into the final four, with Busanan Ongbamrungphan sparking jubilation among the home crowd by winning the final women’s singles 9-21, 12-21 to seal a 3-2 win against Indonesia.
Thailand’s star player, world No. 4 Ratchanok Intanon, started the tie well for the home side, demolishing Indonesia’s Fitriani Fitriani in the first game.
However, the visitors won the next two points, before a Thai doubles pair matched their score and Busanan finally broke the draw, sending her team rushing onto the court to embrace each other and dance before an ecstatic crowd. [FULL STORY]
