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.
