Three-time World Junior Champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand has confirmed that she will not be going to Chiba later this month to defend her title. Thai daily the Bangkok Post said Ratchanok made the statement after winning her national title in Bangkok this past weekend.
The Badminton Association of Thailand was said to be disappointed at Ratchanok’s decision but understanding. Hopes for a five-time World Junior Champion have faded but it will still be difficult for any player to replicate her first-ever feat of winning three consecutive titles. In addition, Ratchanok held out the possibility that she could try for one more World Junior title in 2013, when Bangkok is expected to host the event.
Thailand still has a major contender in the girls’ singles, Busanan Ongbamrungphan; however the Malaysia Grand Prix Gold winner is in for steep competition from the likes of India’s P.V. Sindhu, Sun Yu of China, Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, and from home favourite Nozomi Okuhara.
Click here to read the Bangkok Post article
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