India Open: An Fights off Intanon Challenge
Defending champion An Se Young fought off a stiff challenge from Ratchanok Intanon on Day 2 of the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2024, securing a 16-21 21-13 21-16 win over her experienced rival from Thailand.
· TANMOY MOOKHERJEE
Intanon, the former world champion and a winner in New Delhi on three previous occasions, impressed with some of her best badminton in months following a severe ankle injury, only for the world No.1 Korean to edge the big points to progress.
“I took some time to adapt to the court, and then to adjust to the game of my opponent,” An said. “Once I settled down, I started to play better.
“I rely more on control than speed, which is why it took some time to adjust to the pace of the game at the start.”