Thailand Open: Despite Injury, Intanon Serves a Treat
Still feeling trouble in her right knee, but with that right hand gorgeously caressing the shuttle to various corners, Ratchanok Intanon took her place in the quarterfinals of the TOYOTA Thailand Open 2026.
· DEV SUKUMAR
The world No.7 had hurt herself at the Indonesia Masters in January and said she wasn’t fully fit – then added she preferred not to be 100 per cent as she could let her skill do the talking. And talk it did when needed against rising prospect Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan, who impressed Intanon with her abilities. The Indonesian was tenacious, but struggled to control the shuttle in difficult conditions, and Intanon had a comfortable passage at the end. The 21-16 19-21 21-15 result gave the No.3 seed a date with Japan’s Hina Akechi.
“I’m still not very fit, and I just do what I have to, 80 or 90 per cent. I don't expect to be 100 per cent because sometimes when I’m 100 per cent fit, I cannot play with good quality. Sometimes it depends on mentality.
“Sometimes I couldn’t find rhythm, because this the first time I’m playing her, and I wasn’t sure when I should push the pace. Because she tried to play slow, but sometimes, when I pushed faster, she was already waiting for me. So sometimes I had to fight with myself on what I had to do, but I think that win or lose, it’s like training.