Kunlavut shocks Loh, Thai mixed pair stroll into semis

Thai men’s singles star Kunlavut Vitidsarn and mixed doubles duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai will play in the semi-finals of the US$1.25 million Malaysia Open today.

In yesterday’s quarter-finals at Kuala Lumpur’s Axiata Arena, eighth seed Kunlavut upset third seed Loh Kean Yew, the 2021 world champion from Singapore, 21-11, 20-22, 21-14.

Second seeds Dechapol and Sapsiree beat home players Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei 21-19, 21-9.

The Thais take on Japan’s third seeds Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino in the last four today.

In his first maiden BWF World Tour Super 1000 semi-final, Kunlavut, 21, faces Japan’s Kodai Naraoka who eliminated India’s Prannoy HS 21-16, 19-21, 21-10.

Asked if Loh’s huge support at Axiata Arena affected his game, Kunlavut, the runner-up at the 2022 world championships, said: “I had my supporters too. I could hear…