Salakjit knocks out Hirose in England
[BADMINTON] Thailand's Salakjit Ponsana saw off Japanese rival Eriko Hirose 14-21 21-14 21-17 to reach the women's singles second round for the first time in her career in the US$200,000 All England Badminton Super Series in Birmingham yesterday.
It was a fine breakthrough for Salakjit, who had gone down against the world No 14 in all three of their previous meetings. The Thai girl next faces either China's world No 1 Xie Xingfang or Judith Meulendijks from the Netherlands in the second round. Her compatriot Monthila Meemek had no answer to Wong Pei Xian Julia of Malaysia and lost 21-13 21-6 in other first-round action. In other first-round matches later yesterday, Thai world No 11 Boonsak Ponsana faced Malaysian qualifier Tan Chun Seang in the men's singles. Fellow Thais Songphon Anukrittayawan and Kunchala Vorawichitchaikul took on Robin Middleton and Liza Parker of England in the mixed doubles, while compatriots Duang-Anong Aroonkesorn and Kunchala met China's world No 3 Wei Yili and Zhang Yawen in the women's doubles. Other Thai players crashed out in the qualifying round of the six-day event on Tuesday. Songphon and Sudket Prapakamol fell to Japan's Keishi Kawaguchi and Naoki Kawamae 21-10 21-18. Nattaphon Narkthong and Phattapol Ngernsrisuk went down to Chris Langridge and David Lindley of England 21-19 18-21 22-20.
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