Ratchanok claims gold at World Championships

Thailand`s Ratchanok Intanon won the women`s singles crown at the World Badminton Championships after beating Olympic champion Li Xuerui in the final on Sunday.

Guangzhou: Thailand`s Ratchanok Intanon won the women`s singles crown at the World Badminton Championships after beating Olympic champion Li Xuerui in the final here Sunday.

The fourth seeded Ratchanok overcame the World No.1 22-20, 18-21, 21-14 in one hour and five minutes at the Tianhe Indoor Stadium. This is the first time any shuttler from Thailand has won a gold at the Worlds in any category. In the first game, the Thai girl came back from 12-19 to win the next 10 of the 11 points to bag the game. After losing the second game, the 18-year-old led the third game all the way to become the World Champion. The World No.3 had defeated India`s P.V. Sindhu in the semifinal Saturday to secure a place in the final. IANS