Reigning Thai badminton world champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, is now eyeing a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, after beating Lee Zii Jia in straight sets, 21-14, 21-15, in the semi-final today.
Kunlavut is now the first Thai badminton player ever to win an Olympic medal.
The Men’s Singles final will be held tomorrow and Kunlavut will face either Lakshya Sen from India or Viktor Axelsen from Denmark.
World No. 8, Kunlavut, 23, and World No. 7, Zii Jia, 26, played a balanced game at the start, before Kunlavut surged ahead with his “sting smashes.”
He continued the domination in the second game, while Zii Jia’s attempt to catch up did not materialise after fifty minutes.
The loss dashed the Malaysian badminton camp’s hopes for their first gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Main photo: Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn celebrates winning against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in their men’s singles badminton semi-final match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Porte de la Chapelle Arena in Paris on August 4.//AFP
