PETALING JAYA: Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon is hoping she can make her fifth Olympics appearance in Los Angeles, but she admits the challenge is no longer just about winning matches, but managing her body while holding off the rise of younger compatriots.
The 31-year-old Thai star said she knows the clock is ticking, but is not ready to walk away from the court just yet.
"I’m taking it year by year. I don't know how my condition is going to be," said Ratchanok after her first-round win at the Malaysian Masters on Wednesday (May 20).
"I feel better, I feel confident about my injuries. But I don’t know if I can qualify for the Olympics in the next two years because the younger generation is also coming from the Thai team."
Still, retirement is not in her plans as her promise to her late mother continues to drive her through the toughest moments of her career.
"I have to fight for what I promised my mother, who passed away. That is something that is very challenging for me, but it’s also my source of motivation," said Ratchanok.
Her mother, Kamphan Suwannasara, passed away on Aug 19, 2021, days after the Tokyo Olympics ended. Ratchanok took time away from the court for over a month.
Ratchanok is returning to competition at the Malaysian Masters after recovering from a right knee patellar injury, but she showed that she is feeling fine on court after taking a 21-16, 21-16 win over Indonesia’s Amartya Pratiwi at the Unifi Arena.
"I didn’t really expect to be competing here because I just started training a few weeks before. But I feel about 95% recovered.
"I just tried to push harder because of my knee injury," she said.
Ratchanok, who has won the Malaysian Masters twice in 2018 and 2019, could become the second most successful singles player at the tournament behind local legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who holds five titles.
She said playing in Kuala Lumpur reminds her of home, but with less pressure on her shoulders.
"I always have a good feeling when I play here. I feel confident.
"When I play in Thailand, I feel pressure to win because I want the home fans to see that I’m winning for them," she said.
Second seed Ratchanok will face Bulgarian Kaloyana Nalbantova in the second round on Thursday (May 21).
