Seeds tumble out in women’s doubles

The top seeds in the SCG Thailand Open Grand Prix women's doubles competition fell by the waysides at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Complex on Thursday, leaving China's fifth seeds Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei as the highest ranked pair left in the draw.


Top seeds and home favorites Duanganong Aroonkesorn-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul were surprisingly knocked out in the very first round by unheralded Malaysian pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei. The unseeded Malaysians, who were playing in their first International Open as a pair, got off to a nervy start against the world No. 7 but found their rhythm and composure after a stern talking to from coach Pang Cheh Chang to register an 18-21, 21-9, 21-12 victory in their opening match.
The young duo then went on to beat Indonesian qualifiers Keshya Nurvita Handia-Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella 21-14, 21-18 to book a place in the quarter-finals, where they will meet Indonesian's Anneke Feinya Agustin-Nitya Krishinda Maheswari.


The Indonesians also created an upset when they knocked out sixth seeds Ha Jung Eun-Kim Min Jung (above), 21-16, 21-17 in the second round. They had earlier defeated Taipei's Chang Hsin Yun-Lai Chia Wen 21-19, 21-16. Singapore's second seeds Shinta Mulia Sari-Yao Lei were also shown the door in the opening round, losing to South Korea's Jung Kyung Eun-Kim Ha Na 21-16, 19-21, 21-18.
Thailand's Savitree Amitapai-Somsri Nessara ousted veteran Dutch pair and third seeds Lotte Jonathans-Paulien Van Dooremalen 21-13, 23-21 in the opening round. The local lasses, however, were knocked out in the second round by England's Mariana Agathangelou-Heather Olver, who won 16-21, 26-24, 23-21. Completing the carnage of the top seeds was Imawan Gebby Ristiyani-Nuraidah Tiara Rosalia of Indonesia, who defeated fourth seeds Sandra Marinello-Birgit Michels of Germany 23-21, 21-15.


There was more bad news for the home fans in the men's doubles as they won't have a representative in the quarter-finals after Patipat Chalardchaleam-Maneepong Jongjit were beaten 22-20, 21-19 by South Korean's Kim Ki Jung-Shin Baek Cheol, who in turned, were eliminated by Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim. The Malaysian pair won 21-18, 21-11 to reach the quarter-finals where they will meet second seeded Koreans Ko Sung Hyun-Yoo Yeon Seong.


Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam and Songphon Anugritayawon-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul, the first and second seeds in the mixed doubles, safely made their way into the quarter-finals of the US$120,000 tournament. Anugritayawon-Voravichitchaikul faces a tough encounter against China's Xu Chen-Ma Jin (right). The Chinese duo, who won the All England in March and finished runners-up at the Badminton Asia Championships are considered dark horses to win the title.


Adopted from : Badminton World Federation
Photos by : BadmintonPhoto