Born: 1995
Biography:
Ratchanok Intanon, born on February 5, 1995, is a Thai badminton player who made history by becoming the first Thai to reach the top ranking in women’s singles. Known for her relaxed hitting motion and graceful footwork, Intanon’s playing style has often been compared to ballet by commentators like Gillian Clark. Her journey to the pinnacle of badminton has been marked by numerous accomplishments, struggles, and contributions to the sport and society.
Intanon burst onto the international scene at the tender age of 13 in 2008. She entered the Laos International series, competing in both singles and doubles events. Although she reached the singles final, she was narrowly defeated by Vietnam’s Lê Ngc Nguyên Nhung. Undeterred, Intanon continued to refine her skills and made her breakthrough the following year. At the Vietnam International Challenge in 2009, she clinched her first individual international title at the age of 14.
The young prodigy made headlines again in the same year by becoming the youngest-ever champion at the BWF World Junior Championships held in Malaysia. In a thrilling final against her compatriot Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, Intanon emerged victorious, etching her name into badminton history books. She also reached the final of the Malaysia International Challenge 2009, narrowly losing to Sapsiree Taerattanachai. Additionally, she represented Thailand in the women’s singles final at the 2009 SEA Games, but was defeated by her compatriot Salakjit Ponsana.
Intanon’s dominance in the junior circuit continued into 2010. She successfully defended her title at the BWF World Junior Championships held in Mexico, defeating Misaki Matsutomo. Her winning streak continued at the Smiling Fish International Event where she showcased her skills by defeating teammate Rawinda Prajongjai. Intanon then secured back-to-back victories at the Vietnam Open Grand Prix and the Indonesia Grand Prix Gold, defeating Zhou Hui and Cheng Shao-chieh, respectively.
In the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, Intanon won a silver medal as a member of the women’s team. Although she reached the final, she was unable to overcome the formidable Wang Xin, who at that time held the world number 1 ranking. Despite this setback, her talent and determination were evident to all.
The years 2011 and 2012 marked further milestones in Intanon’s career. She participated in the BWF World Championships and made it to the third round before being defeated by the eventual winner, Wang Yihan. A finalist at the Chinese Taipei Open, she was outplayed by Sung Ji-hyun. Intanon’s prowess in junior events continued to shine as she secured her third consecutive women’s singles title at the BWF World Junior Championships, defeating Indonesia’s Elyzabeth Purwaningtyas.
Continuing her winning streak, Intanon claimed victory at the India Open Grand Prix Gold in 2011 after receiving a walkover against Porntip Buranaprasertsuk in the final. She also played a crucial role in the Thai women’s team that emerged victorious over Indonesia in the final of the 2011 SEA Games. Additionally, she won a bronze medal in the singles event.
Intanon’s extraordinary achievements were recognized in 2012 when she was awarded the Best Female Athlete Award in Thailand. This accolade came after her remarkable feat of winning the world junior title for three consecutive years. She reached the finals of the Thailand Open that year but was unable to overcome Saina Nehwal.
The biography of Ratchanok Intanon is a testament to her incredible talent, hard work, and dedication to badminton. From her early successes in the junior circuit to her ascendance to the top of the women’s singles ranking, she has firmly established herself as one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes.
Awards:
– Best Female Athlete Award in Thailand in 2012