Ratchanok_Intanon (Photo by Nardisoero)
Newly crowned European team champions Bulgaria gave a major scare to Thailand before bowing out 2-3 to Thailand in the Uber Cup badminton championships in Horsens, Denmark.
Both the Thai top singles and doubles pair were beaten as Bulgaria showed their growing stature.
The Bulgarians started their campaign in stunning style. Thailand’s star singles player Ratchanok Intanon was given a rude awakening by unheralded Kaloyana Nalbantova, who took the opening singles 23-21, 14-21, 24-22.
Pornpawee Chochuwong restored parity when she beat Gergana Pavlova 21-16, 21-6 in the second singles and Supanida Katethong put Thailand 2-1 up when she defeated Elena Popivanova 21-10, 21-4.
However, Bulgaria levelled the score in the first doubles. Benyapa Aimsaard-Supissara Paewsampran were beaten by Gabriela Stoeve-Stefani Stoeva 11-21, 21-15, 9-21.
With the score 2-2, Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat stepped up to bring relief to the Thais’ as they romped past Elena Popivanova-Tsvetina Popivanova 21-4, 21-6 for the win.
RESULTS
THOMAS CUP
Group C
Denmark bt Korea 4-1 ( Anders Antonsen bt Yoo Tae-bin 11-21, 21-17, 21-15; Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vetergaard bt Ki Dong-ju-Kim Won-ho 21-18, 23-21; Magnus Johannesen bt Chou Jihoon 21-12, 17-21, 21-15; Kim Astrup-Mathias Christiansen lost to Jin Yong-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) 17-21, 21-18, 21-23; Ditlev Jaeger Holm beat Park Sang Yong (Kor) 26-24, 21-12)
Group D
Indonesia beat Algeria 5-0 (Jonatan Christie bt Adel Hamek 21-8, 21-6; Alwi Farhan bt Mohamed Abderrahime Belarbi 21-8, 21-7; Anthony Sinisuka Ginting beat Mohamed Abdelaziz Ouchefoun 21-8, 21-6; Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri bt Mohammed Abderrahime Belarbi-Kocella Mammeri 21-14, 21-8; Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin bt Adel Hamek-Mohamed Ableaziz Ouchefoun 21-4, 21-7)
UBER CUP
Group A
Denmark bt India 3-2 (Line Christophersen lost to P.V. Sindhu bt 13-21, 21-18, 17-21; Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt bt Unnati Hooda 21-12, 25-23; Amalie Cecilie Kudsk-Mette Werge bt Priya Konjengbam-Shruti Mishra 21-17, 11-21, 23-21; Amalie Schulz bt Tanvi Sharma 19-21, 21-16, 21-16; Alexandra Boje-Christine Busch lost to Tanisha Crasto-P.V. Sindhu 21-19, 14-17 rtd)
Group D
Thailand beat Bulgaria 3-2 (Ratchanok Intanon lost to Kaloyana Nalbantova 23-21, 14-21, 24-22; Pornpawee Chochuwong bt Gergana Pavlova 21-16, 21-6; Supanida Katethong bt Elena Popivanova 21-10, 21-4; Benyapa Aimsaard-Supissara Paewsampran lost to Gabriela Stoeve-Stefani Stoeva 11-21, 21-15, 9-21; Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat beat Elena Popivanova-Tsvetina Popivanova 21-4, 21-6)
