The Spanish Carolina Marín, Olympic, world and European champion, has qualified for the second round of the Thailand Openwhich takes place in Bangkok, by beating local player Pitchamon Opatniputh.
The player from Huelva, fourth favourite, clearly fell apart, in two sleeves, by 21-17 and 21-13from a rival who came from the previous phase and is ranked 52nd in the badminton world ranking.
It didn’t take long for Carolina Marín to take command of the party, although the Asian woman did not give up and even came within one point in the initial partial with a 18-17. It was the moment in which the Spanish finished off the set with three points in a row.
In the second set, the Andalusian midfielder was more forceful and gave Opatniputh fewer options. He started off early and clearly finished off the set and the match in a total of 39 minutes to meet in the second round with another player from the previous one, the Indian Ashmita Chaliha, who beat her compatriot Malvika Bansod 21-17 and 21-14.
Carolina Marín assured that she was “very happy” for the match, “especially for controlling the complicated conditions” they have in the pavilionsince, as he explained, “there is a lot of wind from one side of the track and little from the other side”.
“The important thing is to keep controlling those conditions rather than having a game plan against the rival”pointed out the Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro, who assured that this Thursday she will go “for all against India”, which she has never faced.