OLD HAND NITCHAON PUTS YOUNGER STARS IN SHADE
Thai shuttler finds her mark by becoming the first player to tame world No.1 Tai of Taiwan this year
Nitchaon Jindapol used to play third fiddle to Ratchanok Intanon and Busanan Ongbamrungphan who are younger and more successful on the international stage. However, the 26-year-old from Phuket has outshone the duo over the past few weeks, thanks to a stunning win over world No.1 Tai Tzu-ying.
Nitchaon became the first player to beat Tai this year with her 21-19, 8-21, 21-17 victory over the Taiwanese in the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Open last month.
Probably because Nitchaon used up all her energy against Tai, she lost 21-13, 18-21, 14-21 to Japan’s Sayaka Sato in the next round after suffering a cramp midway through the third game.
Despite the loss, Nitchaon’s popularity in the Kingdom has reached a new high as the fans and journalists hailed her feat against Tai.
Nitchaon remains Thailand’s third best female shuttler judging from the latest world rankings.
She is ranked 14th behind No.9 Ratchanok, 22, and No.12 Busanan, 21.
Nitchaon has won a Grand Prix Gold event, the Bitburger Open in Germany, and a Grand Prix tournament, the Canada Open, both in 2013.
She was a member of the Thai squad which won silver in the women’s team event at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
Here are some facts about Nitchaon:
THE BEGINNING
Nitchaon took up badminton at eight only because her parents wanted her to have good health. However, she soon showed her potential and decided to play the sport seriously at 15. Determined to play for the national team, she moved from her home province of Phuket to Bangkok.
NICKNAMES
Nitchaon is nicknamed ‘Nat’ by her parents. But some fans and journalists call her ‘Angel’ or even ‘Sharapova’, after Russian tennis star Maria because of her attractive looks.
Not surprisingly, she already has a boyfriend, Sappanyu Avisingsanon, who is also a national team player.
However, she is a big fan of actor Jirayu ‘James Ji’ Tangsrisuk and once said she would like to play with him in a comedy.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Like many female sports fans in Thailand, Nitchaon supports English Premier League club Manchester United and being an admirer of the Red Devils could cost her a few fans.
“I won’t support her anymore,” a Liverpool fan once joked on her Facebook page.
SUSHI
While she is a native of Phuket, where the food is hot and spicy, Nichaon likes Japanese food most with sushi being her favourite. She has travelled around the world to play in tournaments and South Korea is her most favourite destination — partly because she is a fan of Korean TV soap operas. However, the place she wants to see most is Niagara Falls.
CANADA
Nitchaon won the women’s singles title at the 2013 Canada Open, which will always be remembered for an on-court brawl between Thai players Bodin Isara and Maneepong Jongjit, who were playing on the opposing sides in the men’s doubles final.