Latest news with #Kunlavut
Malaysia Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Malaysia Sun
Thailand claims two titles at Singapore Badminton Open
Xinhua 01 Jun 2025, 22:05 GMT+10 BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Thailand secured two championships on Sunday at the Singapore Badminton Open, with Kunlavut Vitidsarn winning the men's singles crown and the mixed doubles pair of Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran also triumphing. Second-seeded Kunlavut dominated the men's singles final, defeating China's Lu Guangzu 21-6, 21-10 in just 37 minutes. The victory marked Kunlavut's fourth title of the season and is set to propel him to the world No. 1 ranking in the men's singles when the Badminton World Federation (BWF) releases its latest standings next week. He will also become the first men's singles player born after 2000 to achieve the top ranking. Earlier, Thai mixed doubles stars Puavaranukroh and Paewsampran captured their title by defeating Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong, China, 2-0 in the final. China's Chen Yufei claimed the women's singles title, defeating compatriot Wang Zhiyi in straight sets for her fourth championship of the season. Notably, Chen ended the 27-match winning streak of reigning Olympic gold medalist An Se-young of South Korea in the quarterfinals. Since returning to competition in February following a three-month study break in Australia, Chen has regained her form and extended her own winning streak to 22 matches. In doubles action, South Korean pairs secured one gold and one silver medal. Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong won the women's doubles title by defeating Japan's Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi 21-16, 21-14. However, Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik beat Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae 15-21, 21-18, 21-19.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
New world no. 1 Kunlavut seals Singapore crown in style
KUNLAVUT Vitidsarn celebrated becoming the first man from Thailand to top the badminton world rankings by winning the Singapore Open in style on Sunday. The 24-year-old demolished China's unseeded Lu Guangzu 21-6, 21-10 in just 37 minutes with his range of powerful smashes and deceptive drop shots. Paris Olympics silver medallist Kunlavut will replace another Chinese player, Shi Yuqi, as world number one in a landmark for Thai badminton. It was his fourth title this season. 'There will be pressure to be the best player in the world, but it's going to be a good pressure as that will give me the added motivation of doing my best to win all the tournaments I take part in,' said Kunlavut, who lost the Paris final to Viktor Axelsen. Denmark's two-time Olympic champion Axelsen, the former number one, is currently working his way back to fitness following surgery for a back problem. In an all-Chinese women's final at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, the fifth seed Chen Yufei outplayed second-seeded Wang Zhiyi 21-11, 21-11. Chen was runner-up to world number one An Se-young last year. Chen ended the South Korean's unbeaten run in 2025 by defeating her in the quarter-finals this year. 'I'm really very happy with this win because the draw was not exactly in my favour and every match felt like a battle,' said Chen. 'To make it all the way to the final was honestly something unexpected. 'I felt like I was not under too much pressure this time, so I played more freely and showed what I'm capable of.'
France 24
3 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
New world no. 1 Kunlavut seals Singapore crown in style
The 24-year-old demolished China's unseeded Lu Guangzu 21-6, 21-10 in just 37 minutes with his range of powerful smashes and deceptive drop shots. Paris Olympics silver medallist Kunlavut will replace another Chinese player, Shi Yuqi, as world number one in a landmark for Thai badminton. It was his fourth title this season. "There will be pressure to be the best player in the world, but it's going to be a good pressure as that will give me the added motivation of doing my best to win all the tournaments I take part in," said Kunlavut, who lost the Paris final to Viktor Axelsen. Denmark's two-time Olympic champion Axelsen, the former number one, is currently working his way back to fitness following surgery for a back problem. In an all-Chinese women's final at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, the fifth seed Chen Yufei outplayed second-seeded Wang Zhiyi 21-11, 21-11. Chen was runner-up to world number one An Se-young last year. Chen ended the South Korean's unbeaten run in 2025 by defeating her in the quarter-finals this year. "I'm really very happy with this win because the draw was not exactly in my favour and every match felt like a battle," said Chen. "To make it all the way to the final was honestly something unexpected.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Kunlavut to become first Thai men's singles world No.1
KUALA LUMPUR: Kunlavut Vitidsarn will become the first Thai men's singles player to reach the world No. 1 spot following his emphatic win at the Singapore Open on Sunday. The 24-year-old reigning world champion crushed China's world No. 15 Lu Guang Zu 21-6, 21-10 in just 37 minutes to capture his fourth title of the year. "I'm having a great run this season, and to be the new world No. 1 is an honour," said Kunlavut. Currently ranked No. 2, Kunlavut has amassed 97,179 points — enough to leapfrog China's Shi Yu Qi (95,117), who dropped significant points after failing to defend his Super 750 crown. The Singapore win earned Kunlavut US$70,000 (RM297,970), while runner-up Lu Guang Zu pocketed US$34,000 (RM144,729). Kunlavut's rise has been nothing short of spectacular. The Chonburi-born shuttler was a three-time world junior champion before becoming Thailand's first men's singles world champion in 2023 and clinching Olympic silver in Paris last year. This season, Kunlavut has claimed titles at the Indonesia Masters, Badminton Asia Championships and the Thailand Open — and now adds the Singapore Open to his growing collection, taking his career tally to seven. Given his red-hot form, Kunlavut is widely tipped to win his first Super 1000 title at the Indonesia Open, which begins in Jakarta on Tuesday. The new world rankings will be released on Tuesday.
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Thai-phoon! Kunlavut lifts Singapore Open and is set to become world No. 1
Good job: Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn wins at the Singapore Open. - AFP PETALING JAYA: Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn was on top of the world after winning the men's singles title in the Singapore Open in super style. Like the typhoon, Kunlavut came charging in and played cleverly to blow away Lu Guangzu of China 21-6, 21-10 in just 37 minutes to lift the title and confirm his position as the new world No. 1 singles player - the first Thai to do so. The former world champion, currently ranked second behind Shi Yuqi of China in the world ranking, is set to take the top spot when the Badminton World Federation (BWF) publish the new list on Tuesday. Yuqi also became the world No. 1 player last year after winning the Singapore Open. Kunlavut truly deserves the title and status as the world No. 1 as yesterday's final was his fourth this year. He started the year by winning the Indonesian Masters and followed it up with Asian Championships and Thailand Open last week. Said the modest Thai after the win: "I'm truly happy as this had been a great year for me but there's always room for improvement." It was also a good day for Thailand as Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran defeated Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong 21-16, 21-9 to win the mixed doubles title. RESULTS Men's singles: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) bt Lu Guangzu (Chn) 21-6, 21-10. Women's singles: Chen Yufei (Chn) bt Wang Zhiyi (Chn) 21-11, 21-11. Women's doubles: Kim Hye-jeong-Kong Hee-yong (Kor) bt Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi (Jpn) 21-16, 21-14. Mixed doubles: Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran (Tha) bt Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) 21-16, 21-9.
