Thai teenager defeats Chinese Olympic champion to take women’s world badminton title

Thai teenager defeats Chinese Olympic champion to take women’s world badminton title

Thai teenager Ratchanok Intanon took the world women's title in Guangzhou Sunday in a giant upset, beating Chinese Olympic champion Li Xuerui 22-20, 18-21, 21-14.

The three-game thriller was a battle of wonderful technical skills and stamina, with Ratchanok pushing a more experienced Li around the court with a massive repertoire of shots.
Ratchanok, 18, becomes the first ever Thai player to win gold at the world championships after defeating 22-year-old top seed Li, who was gunning for her first world title.Ratchanok came back from 19-12 down in the first game to clinch it by points, with a grim-faced Li fighting back to take the second.But the supremely relaxed Thai looked physically and mentally stronger in the final game, holding on to a lead although Li threw everything at her.At the finish of the match Ratchanok dropped to her knees in tears on court before bowing to an applauding stadium. - AFP, August 11, 2013.