Top seed Anders Antonsen and 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew were the two biggest names to fall in the opening round at badminton’s 2024 BWF Toyota Thailand Open on Wednesday (15 May).
Antonsen, the world number four, was beaten in three games by world number 27 By Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong China, who has only reached one semi-final on the BWF World Tour in the last two seasons.
Ng took a close opening game 21-18, and although Denmark’s Antonsen levelled the match with a more dominant showing in the second 21-14, Ng won the last six points from 15-15 in the decider to take victory (21-18, 14-21, 21-15) in an hour and 15 minutes of play.
Meanwhile, Singaporean Loh’s inconsistent form continued with defeat to Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tzu-wei.
Despite winning the Madrid Spain Masters last time out on the tour circuit, seventh seed Loh put up little resistance against Wang, the world number 23.
The Singaporean was never really in the second game after losing his rhythm at the end of the first, falling 15-21, 13-21 in 39 minutes of play.
It means the top quarter of the draw in Bangkok is already without both its seeded players, and with fifth seed H. S. Prannoy also falling in the first round, just one seed – reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarnseeded fourth – remains in the top half.
Malaysia’s Lee Zi Jiathe sixth seed, faces People’s Republic of China’s Lei Lanxi in the first round later on Wednesday after a change in the draw.
The final rounds from Bangkok are live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app (territorial restrictions may apply).
2024-05-15 09:13:00
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