BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Thailand's top badminton star Kunlavut "View" Vitidsarn powered to his first title of 2024, clinching the Korea Masters crown in straight games over China’s Wang Zheng Xing in Iksan, South Korea, on Sunday.
The tournament, a prestigious BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Tour Super 300 event, came with a prize pool of US$210,000 (7,140,000 baht).
Paris Olympic silver medallist Kunlavut, the tournament's top seed and ranked fifth in the world, faced off against the unseeded yet determined Wang, currently ranked 55th.
Wang came out strong, quickly leading 5-1 in the first game and extending his advantage to 9-4 with sharp, well-placed attacks.
Kunlavut then found his stride, launching a counter-attack that earned him 5 consecutive points to level the score at 9-9. The players exchanged points in a thrilling battle, but Kunlavut capitalised on key moments to take the first game 21-18.
Wang opened the second game in similar fashion, pushing ahead 6-4 with a series of precise smashes. However, Kunlavut stayed composed, turning the tables with a strong offensive run that put him up 13-11. The momentum continued to swing, but Kunlavut ultimately closed out the game 21-18, securing the title with a 2-0 victory.
This Korea Masters win marks Kunlavut’s first title since his triumph at the World Championships in 2023, and he becomes the first Thai player in 17 years to capture this title. This is his fourth title on the BWF World Tour.
The victory comes with a reward of US$15,700 (about 533,800 baht), while runner-up Wang will take home US$7,980 (about 271,320 baht).
Malaysia's men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soo Wooi Yik also won their first title of the season after beating korean pair Jin Yong-Kim Won Ho in the final of the korean Badminton Masters Championship today.
The pair had to work hard for their win, losing their first set 21-23 before winning the next two sets 21-19, 21-14 at Iksan Gymnasium.
Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia won the women's singles, beating China's Han Qian Xi. The scoreline was 21-14, 21-14 to the second seed.
Korean pair Kim Hye Jeong-Kong Hee Yong won the women's doubles on home turf while Chinese duo Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui won the mixed event. - The Nation Thailand/ANN
