Thailand showed their class as a rising women’s badminton power in the world when they dethroned 14-times winners and defending champions China 3-2 in the semi-finals to reach their first Uber Cup finals.
The Thais, with a vociferous support in the stands, did not let their home fans down with a tremendous show of unity, guts, determination plus fighting spirit.
While the Thais celebrate their historic achievement, the might Chinese are crest-fallen with the dent in their pride and crack in the Great Wall.
Thailand’s winning point came in the third singles when, Busanan Ongbamrungphan, 22, who won the 2015 Sea Games gold medal by beating Indonesia’s Hanna Ramadini in the final, finished off China’s 2012 London Olympics gold medallist Li Xuerui, 27, in straight games 21-11, 21-9 in 33 minutes.
With Busanan was “drowned” by teammates and officials, amidst the celebrations, there were also high fives for others who played a big role in the historic win.
Former world champion and world No 1 Ratchanok Intanon paved the way by clinching the first point for Thailand with a come-from-behind 15-21, 21-9, 21-14 win over Chen Yufei in the first singles in 61 minutes.
China drew level 1-1 by winning the first doubles with world No 1 Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan coming off 21-17, 22-20 winners over Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai.
Nitchaon Jindapol then took over the show, prevailing in three games 19-21, 21-19, 21-12 over Gao Fangjiein a marathon 91 minutes to give her team a 2-1 lead.
But there was more to come in another marathon which lasted a good 99 minutes in the second doubles with China’s Huang Yaqiong-Tang Jinhua fighting a ding- dong battle against Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai. The Chinese won 24-26, 21-17, 21-18 to make it 2-2 on the night.
Busanan, however, made it count in 33 minutes in the third singles and the rest of history.
Motivated and inspired by the shock win over China, the fourth-seeded Thais will now wait for top seeds Japan in the final. Japan downed South Korea 3-1 in the other semi-final. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
