In the men’s singles semi-final, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, ranked 8th in the world, faced Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, ranked 7th. The two had met eight times prior, with each winning four matches. Their most recent encounter saw Kunlavut triumph at the Indonesia Open 2024 in June.
The match began with both players displaying poise, resulting in a tight contest tied at 7-7. Lee Zii Jia struggled to find his form, whereas Kunlavut excelled, particularly with his defensive resilience and deceptive shots, winning the first game 21-14.
In the second game, Kunlavut maintained his consistency, building a lead of 11-6. He controlled the game effectively, securing a straight-sets victory with scores of 21-14 and 21-15.
This victory makes Kunlavut Vitidsarn the first Thai player to reach the Olympic badminton final, guaranteeing at least a silver medal. He will face the winner of the match between Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, the world number 2 and reigning champion, and India’s Lakshya Sen, ranked 22nd in the world. The final is scheduled for August 5 at 7:30 PM.
