WORLDS 2013 R32 – Thais start the upsets in women’s game

The upsets in women’s doubles at the Wang Lao Ji BWF World Badminton Championships began early with the ousting of the 3^rd seeds by Thailand’s Narissapat Lam / Saralee Thoungthongkam.

By Don Hearn, Badzine Correspondent live in Guangzhou.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Narissapat Lam and Saralee Thoungthongkam (pictured) of Thailand showed their can still sneak up on the best women’s doubles pairs.  After upsetting nearly a half-dozen past or present top-ten pairs in the past 14 months, the Thais made Japan’s 3^rd-seeded Misaki Matsutomo (pictured below) and Ayaka Takahashi their most recent victims, beating them in straight games to prevent them from playing even a second match at these World Championships.

“I don’t think we had a definite strategy but we wanted to attack and we tried to keep the game going so that we’d be on attack more than defense,” Narissapat Lam explained after the match.  “Also, we didn’t have pressure so we could play as we wanted to play.  For them, they were the third seeds, so everyone was expecting them to win.”

Even on paper, this is one of the more interesting pairs as Lam, 17, is only half her partner’s age and complements the Thai ace exceedingly well.

“I’m still young, only 17, and I get to partner one of the most experienced players in the game of badminton so it’s a really good opportunity for me,” said the youngster.

“In terms of technique and other things where experience helps, I help Narissapat because I’ve been around longer,” said Saralee.  “When it comes to attacking, power and the running, she’s still young so she can help me.”

Narissapat, of course, has another year left as a junior player as well and in junior events, her partner is Puttita Supajirakul, who is not only young but also one of the tallest players in the women’s game.

“Partnering Puttita, she’s the same age as me and she’s one of my best friends so I don’t feel much pressure when I play with her, compared to when I play with Saralee,” said Narissapat.  “Saralee is so experienced and she is like a big sister to me.”

Meanwhile, Japan has already sent two other pairs into the third round as Maeda/Suetsuna claimed their expected victory and also Rie Eto / Yu Wakita bested 15^th-seeded Indonesians Gebby Ristiyani Imawan / Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah, both matches being 70-minute marathons.  The remaining Thai and Japanese pairs are each scheduled to play later in the day.

Click here for complete Round of 32 results