Thai 'Tom Yam" too hot and spicy for the Danes
Thailand sprang a big upset in the Sudirman Cup when they beat second seeds Denmark 3-2 in a thrilling quarter-final match to reach only their second semi-final in the mixed team championships.
What hurt the Danes more is that their much dependable and seasoned women's doubles pair of Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christinna Pedersen were torn to shreds by Thailand's new combination Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the decider after both teams were deadlocked at 2-2. The Thais won the decider 21-15, 21-12 in 44 minutes.
While the Thais celebrated their great win at the Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium, the Danes, who are the reigning European champions and winners of the silver medal at last year's Rio Olympics, were crestfallen and trooped off the court dazed - not knowing what really hit them.
To add salt to injury they lost to a scratch Thai pair that was playing in only their second match together but showed the chemistry that would make them world beaters.
Thailand will now meet South Korea in Saturday's semi-finals. The Koreans, defeated Chinese Taipei 3-1 and gained revenge for their 3-2 defeat in the group stage.
The Thais won the first point through their rising mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai who continued their good run in the Sudirman Cup with a 21-19, 21-19 win over Mathias Christiansen-Sara Thygesen in 49 minutes.
But Denmark overcame the setback and snatched a 2-1 lead through Rio Olympics bronze medallist Viktor Axelsen in the men's singles and Mads Conrad Petersen-Mads Pieler Kolding in the men's doubles.
Axelsen beat Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 21-15, 21-6 in only 31 minutes while in the men's doubles the Danish pair prevailed after a 68 minute battle with a come-from-behind 15-21, 21-18, 21-16 win over Bodin Isara-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet.
Former world champion and world number one Ratchanok Intanon was next on court and she made it 2-2 with an easy 21-15, 21-14 win over Line Kjaersfeldt in 38 minutes - to set the stage for the decisive women's doubles.
The rest is history as Asians once again showed their might in the shuttle sport to derail the last European hope. No European team has won the Sudirman Cup. China have won it 10 times followed by Korea who have won three times and Indonesia once.
The Koreans sealed their revenge victory over Chinese Taipei with the first point coming from the men's doubles Choi Solgyu-Seo Seung-jae who won a three-set battle to down Lee Jhe-huei-Lee Yang 21-16, 14-21, 21-17.
World No 1 Tai Tzu Ying put Chinese Taipei on level terms with a 21-14, 26-24 win over third ranked Sung Ji-hyun but that was all her country could do. The Koreans won the next two points - the men's singles through Son Won-ho and Chang Ye-na-Lee So-hee (ranked No 3) for an unassailable 3-1 lead and a place in the last four.
Won-ho beat Chou Tien Chen after a tough marathon 91-minute battle before prevailing 13-21, 21-18, 23-21 while Ye-na-So-hee tamed Hsu Ya Ching-Wu Ti Jung 21-13, 21-18.
RESULTS (QUARTER-FINALS)
Thailand beat Denmark 3-2
(Thailand first)
XD: Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai beat Mathias Christiansen-Sara Thygesen 21-19, 21-19
MS: Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk lost to Viktor Axelsen 15-21, 6-21
MD: Bodin Isara-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet lost to Mads Conrad Petersen-Mads Pieler Kolding 21-15, 18-21, 16-21
WS: Ratchanok Intanon beat Line Kjaersfeldt 21-15, 21-14
WD: Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai beat Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christinna Pedersen 21-15, 21-12
South Korea beat Chinese Taipei 3-1
(Korea first)
MD: Choi Solgyu-Seo Seung-jae beat Lee Jhe-huei-Lee Yang 21-16, 14-21, 21-17
WS: Sung Ji-hyun lost to Tai Tzu Ying 14-21, 24-26
MS: Son Wan-ho beat Chou Tien Chen 13-21, 21-18, 23-21
WD: Chang Ye-na-Lee So-hee beat Hsu Ya Ching-Wu Ti Jung 21-13, 21-18
GROUP 2B
Singapore beat Australia 4-1
GROUP 3
Fiji beat Guam 3-1
Sri Lanka beat Macau China 3-0
Slovakia beat New Caledonia 3-0
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