World No.15 Aya Ohori finally broke her dry spell on the HSBC BWF World Tour, winning the PRINCESS SIRIVANNAVARI Thailand Masters 2024 with a come-from-behind result over Supanida Katethong.

It was Ohori’s first title since winning the YONEX/K&D Graphics International Challenge in December 2018 and her biggest title since US Open 2017 – then a Grand Prix Gold event.

An emotional Ohori fell to the floor after beating Katethong 18-21 21-17 21-13 in 81 minutes.

In men’s singles, Chou Tien Chen bounced back from a recent crisis of poor form. The world No.14 had won only one match in his last five tournaments, and staged the perfect comeback with a hard-fought win over Loh Kean Yew in three games.

World No.11 Loh’s hopes of a first title in over two years were dashed once again, as the Singaporean came up short in the third game after a strong performance in the second.

Since winning the World Championships in December 2021, Loh has been in two finals on the HSBC BWF World Tour, besides the Badminton Asia Championships 2023. On Sunday, playing Chou, Loh was in the contest until midway in the third game, after which his challenge faded away. Chou sank to the ground in relief after he had clinched the 21-16 6-21 21-16 result; it was his first title since winning the HYLO Open last November.

Other Highlights

The most exciting contest on finals day was women’s doubles, with home fans treated to a thrilling victory by local pair Benyapa Aimsaard/Nuntakarn Aimsaard.

The Thai world No.13 duo were nearly upstaged by world No.25 pair Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min, who were in their first final of this level. In one of the closest women’s doubles finals so far this season, the Thais saved seven match points to prevail over the Chinese, 21-13 17-21 27-25.

Thailand suffered reverses in two finals. Teenaged men’s doubles duo Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul were outplayed by the more experienced He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu in three games, while in women’s singles, Supanida Katethong also fell short against Ohori in three games.

After the Aimsaards had clinched the women’s doubles, Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai finished the day on a victorious note for home fans with a 21-12 21-18 result over second seeds Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei.

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