Ratchanok Intanon intends to skip 2012 World Junior Championships – Badminton News
It seems Thailand’s badminton queen Ratchanok Intanon has decided to give all the attentions to her professional career as she briefed that she will not represent her country in 2012 World Junior Championships, set to be staged in the last week of October
in Japan.
World number ten Ratchanok is the only player to win World Junior title three times in a row. She created history by wearing gold medals around her neck in 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions of this esteemed badminton event.
She was supposed to raise country’s flag for the fourth time but she refused to shoulder her responsibility just few weeks before the tournament.
However, Ratchanok announced that she will appear in next edition of Junior Championships which will be held in Thailand.
She said, "I will not play at the world junior this year. But I might join the event next year when it is held in Bangkok."
The 17-year-old Thai campaigner has gained a respectable position in the arena by performing exceedingly well in the past.
Her latest success is Women’s Singles title in SCG All Thailand Championships as she unseated Nichaon Jindapon in final match to claim second title at national level.
This year she has been honoured with ''Best Female Athlete Award'' for escorting her country to glory at the international level.
She played her given role to the perfection in 2011 SEA Games and 2012 Thailand Open Grand Prix and led the country to the finals of both prestigious events.
Now Ratchanok is all set to swing her arms in China Open and Hong Kong Open and probably this was the reason that she decided not to defend her title in 2012 World Junior Championships.
Though, Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) president Charoen Wattanasin looked surprised with this decision but he briefed the media that national body will support Ratchanok en route to glory.
Charoen admitted that it will be huge task for other youngsters to match the class of Ratchanok but he hoped that they will put their best to excel in this event.
He said, "We will send 16 players to the event with Busanan and Sitthikom being our best bets. However, we will not put a pressure on both of them to follow in Ratchanok's footsteps."
In the absence of its prime shuttler Ratchanok Intanon, Thailand will bank on an inexperienced but talented campaigner Busanan Ongbumrungpan.
Though, the youngster is in high spirits to fetch good news for the nation but she will have to play her heart out to save country’s honour.
She will be up against a bunch of spirited challengers like P.V. Sindhu of India, Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, Sun Yu of China and Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.
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