Bangkok Post – Ratchanok, Kunlavut in KL last 16

Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Ratchanok Intanon moved into the last 16 round of the of the season-opening Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Men’s singles world champion Kunlavut survived a tough test against Kenta Nishimoto, overcoming the Japanese star in three games 21-14, 21-23, 21-15 in an hour and 42 minutes.

Fifth seed Kunlavut will play Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi for a place in the quarter-finals of the World Tour Super 1000 event, which offers a total prize money of US$1.3 million (approx 44.2 million baht).

Lin knocked out another Thai hope Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-17, 21-13 on Wednesday.

Women’s singles hope Ratchanok, who is back in action after a long injury lay-off, defeated Myanmar’s Thet Htar…