World no. 1 Ratchanok takes on Govt House no. 1

Ratchanok Intanon's visit to Government House yesterday featured a short badminton match with the PM and his promise of help for her Chinese coach in gaining Thai citizenship.

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Prime minister meets new No.1 Ratchanok

Patsara Jikkham

The man behind the meteoric success of the world’s top women’s shuttler Ratchanok Intanon is close to fulfilling his dream of being granted Thai citizenship.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Wednesday officials were working on all legal processes to give coach Xie Zhuhua Thai citizenship.

Gen Prayut conveyed the news to the badminton ace when she visited Government House to pay a courtesy call on the premier yesterday.

Ratchanok scored a hat trick of titles by winning the India, Malaysia and Singapore Open championships in consecutive weeks.

Her world No.1 status will become official today when the Badminton World Federation updates its official rankings.

Her Chinese coach, who has nurtured Ratchanok, 21, since she was six years old at the Banthongyod club has long sought Thai citizenship. He has spent much of his career in Thailand, having coached here for 24 years.

Xie accompanied Ratchanok to Government House, where he thanked the prime minister for helping with his citizenship application and promised to make Ratchanok an even better player.

The premier took the opportunity to try his hand at badminton with an impromptu game against Ratchanok, after which, Gen Prayut proclaimed lightheartedly, “I’m the No.1 player at Government House.”

Ratchanok poses with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and BAT president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul outside Government House yesterday.

Following Ratchanok's historic feat of winning three consecutive Superseries (top tier) events and rising to the world No.1 spot today, the prime minister said the government is willing to help the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) in its bid to host Superseries tournaments, which cost about 25-30 million baht per year.

“The government is ready to give 25 million baht to host a tournament [every year] and the rest would have to be managed by the association,” he said.

Gen Prayut added that he watched all the three finals and admired Ratchanok’s fightback in the Singapore Open showdown in which the 21-year-old Yasothon native came back from behind to win the title against China’s Sun Yu.

“Despite losing the first game, I had faith that she would win the match,” said Gen Prayut.

“I would like to thank her for making the Thai people happy especially during the Songkran festival.”

Ratchanok, the 2013 world champion, said she was happy to have met the prime minister.

“It is a great feeling to meet the prime minister who always supports me in every match,” she said.

“I feel motivated and will try not to be under pressure in future matches.”

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