10th November 2004
Boonsak Ponsana is one name that Singapore badminton fans will not forget in a hurry. The Thai ace denied Singapore ace Ronald Susilo a coveted semifinal slot at the recent Athens Olympics and Singaporeans now have a chance to watch Boonsak in the flesh in next week’s Aviva Open Singapore 2004 (Nov 16 to 21).
Ponsana, 22, who defeated Susilo in Athens with his relentless pace and attacking style, is certainly one of the dark horses for the five-star US$170,000 world grand prix event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The young law student has already played the underdog role to perfection in the last two seasons by surprising some of the biggest names on the world circuit. This year, Ponsana upset former world number one Chen Hong of China and current world number 14 Ng Wei of Hong Kong and in the Thomas Cup Continental Stage matches. Last year, the Thai number one pulled off one of the year’s biggest upsets when he defeated reigning world champion Xia Xuanze of China at the semi-finals of the six-star US$250,000 Hong Kong Open.
Early this year, Ponsana won the season-opening two-star Siam Cement WGP Thailand Open title to the delight of his home fans. At the Athens Olympics, he charged into the final four before losing to eventual champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia. Although he lost to Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro 11-15, 16-17 in a hard-fought bronze medal playoff, Ponsana sealed his place in the record books as the first Thai to reach the semi-finals at the Olympics. Hailed as a national hero upon his return to Thailand, the young player also received one million baht from the Siam Cement Company for his gallant effort. Fuelled by his recent success, the current world number 25 could pull off more surprises at the upcoming Aviva Open.
For next week’s Aviva Open in Singapore, Ponsana, who is seeded 16th, will only face in his first real test in the third round where he is likely to face 2003 World Championships runner-up and fifth seed Wong Choong Hann of Malaysia. The Thai youngster will be eager to avenge a defeat to 9-15, 15-8, 6-15 Wong at the Taipei Open a year ago. If Ponsana can upset Wong, he could face two-time defending champion Chen Hong in the round of eight.
Spearheading the Thai challenge in the Aviva Open women’s events meantime are Ponsana’s younger sister, Salakjit Ponsana (women’s singles), Saralee Thungthongkam and Sathinee Chankrachangwong (women’s doubles), as well as Duang-Anong Arunkesorn and Kulchala Worawichitchaikul (women’s doubles).
Salakjit, last year’s SEA Games silver medallist and this year’s Thailand Asian Satellite champion, will certainly be looking to make an impression in a major grand prix event. The 20-year old faces China’s Chen Li in the first round and could meet seventh seed Xu Huaiwen of Germany in a possible second round tie. Doubles pair Arunkesorn and Worawichitchaikul will also be aiming to make a step up at the Aviva Open. Winners at the Vietnam Satellite 2004 and the Thai Asian Satellite 2004, the Thais face Danish pair Helle Nielsen and Pernille Harder in the opener and could meet local favourites Jiang Yanmei and Li Yujia in the round of 16.
SEA Games mixed doubles champions Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam meantime will be eager to win their first major title for 2004. The Thai pair failed to win the three finals they played in this year - the Thailand Open, the Japan Open and the Asian Championships - but are certainly capable of becoming the first Thais to win a title in Singapore.
Prapakamol and Thungthongkam had already proved that they can mix it up with some of the best mixed pairs on the circuit. The Thai pair upset current world number one Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms of England at this year’s Korea Open and had also beaten China’s world number two Chen Qiqiu and Zhao Tingting at the Japan Open. The Thai fourth seeds are likely to meet fifth seed Kim Yong Hyun and Lee Hyo Jung in the quarterfinals, before a potential semifinal clash against either England’s Robertson and Emms or China’s Olympic champions Zhang Jun and Gao Ling.
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