Her quarter-final loss at the London Olympics is still fresh in Ratchanok Intanon’s mind and she is now aiming to make amends to the early exit in Rio this time around.
Her quarter-final loss at the London Olympics is still fresh in Ratchanok Intanon’s mind and she is now aiming to make amends to the early exit in Rio this time around.
Ratchanok, who is in blazing form after overcoming a series of injuries that affected her results last year, believes with an improved fitness level, she has a good chance to make it to the podium at the Rio Games this August.
“Whenever I am asked this question, I say the London Games loss was my saddest moment. I had a chance to pull off the match after I was leading 16-9 against Wang Xin but could not maintain the momentum and made many mistakes. I was just 17 then and didn’t have experience,” said an injury-free Ratchanok, who is the youngest world champion in 2013 at the age of 18.
“I have learnt from my mistakes and am ready for the challenge in Rio. I am hopeful of winning a medal this time around,” added Ratchanok, who stormed into the final of the India Open Super Series with a straight-game win over Korean Bae Yeon Ju on the day.
The Thai world no. 4, who was forced to leave the court in a wheelchair at the All Englands with a foot injury, said a meditation programme ahead of the World Superseries Finals had helped her improve her mental stren-gth. “This had helped me calm down before tough matches. Earlier, I used to get nervous. Now I am much more patient. The results are showing,” said the 21-year-old who has trained at the Banthongyord Badminton Academy in Bangkok since as a seven-year-old kid.
Winner of last month’s Thailand Masters, she pointed out that the level of competition in the women’s singles had become exciting. “It has become more open now with a lot of players in the top-16 winning and losing of late. It has become much more exciting.”
Asked about the final against Li Xuerui on Sunday, she added: “I am ready for the challenge and will give my best.”
