Teenaged Thai men’s doubles pair Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul shot into their first final on the HSBC BWF World Tour with a straight-games win over their senior compatriots.
The two 19-year-olds, ranked No.76 and playing their first event in 2024, overcame Thailand’s highest-ranked duo, No.33 Supak Jomkoh/Kittinupong Kedren to earn a shot at the PRINCESS SIRIVANNAVARI Thailand Masters 2024. The young pair led 17-10 in the opening game before their seniors reeled off nine points in a row, and then held three game points. Sukphun and Teeraratsakul kept their composure to take the game, and were then unchallenged in the second to take the match 24-22 21-13.
The Thais are in their first final since the VICTOR Future Series Nouvelle-Aquitaine in August 2022 which they won. They face a difficult challenge in the final, in the form of world No.16 He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu, who routed Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana 21-15 21-6.
Other Highlights
Thailand had a good day overall, with two of their other three contenders winning.
World No.17 Supanida Katethong made her first final since the US Open in July 2023, beating Ashmita Chaliha 21-13 21-12. Women’s doubles No.13 Benyapa Aimsaard/Nuntakarn Aimsaard overcame Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi to set up a final against China’s world No.25 duo Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min, who made their first HSBC BWF World Tour final.
India Open 2024 winners Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai made their second final in three weeks, beating Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati 21-17 21-14. The only reverse for the hosts was in women’s singles, with Busanan Ongbamrungphan falling to Aya Ohori 21-16 21-12.
In men’s singles, world No.14 Chou Tien Chen, who has not had much luck in recent times with five consecutive early-round exits, progressed into the men’s singles final, where he takes on Loh Kean Yew, who made his first final since the Korea Open in July 2023.