The Shuttle Drop: Antonsen wins battle in Bangkok

Sometimes finals are decided by skill.
Sometimes by nerve.
Sometimes by survival.

Anders Antonsen and Kunlavut Vitidsarn gave us all three in Bangkok.

For 97 exhausting minutes, the Thailand Open final swung wildly between control and collapse. Kunlavut looked ready to finish it in two games. Then Antonsen clawed his way back. In the decider, the Thai star surged from 1–6 down to suddenly lead again, with the crowd sensing another iconic home victory.

But while Kunlavut looked like he was holding himself together physically by sheer willpower, Antonsen somehow kept finding energy. Kept retrieving. Kept pushing. Kept believing.

Under the incoming 3×15 scoring system, Kunlavut probably wins that match in straight games.

But this was still the old world.
And in the old world, endurance still matters.

On Sunday in Bangkok, Anders Antonsen outlasted everyone.

Anders Antonsen captured his first Thailand Open title after one of the matches of the year.

The Dane defeated defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a draining 97-minute final that felt as much mental as physical.

The fascinating subplot?
Kunlavut’s evolving style.

The Thai star looked noticeably more aggressive throughout the week, taking the shuttle earlier, attacking quicker and trying to impose himself rather than purely absorb and counter. It nearly worked perfectly. He looked on course to close the match in two games.

But the deeper the match went, the more the physical toll showed.

Antonsen, meanwhile, somehow looked capable of playing another five games.

The deciding game became chaos:

Then came the smallest of margins:
👉 a long serve from Kunlavut.

At this level, tiny moments decide everything.

“It feels so incredible,” said Antonsen afterwards. “I’m lost for words right now.”

He earned it.

A year out injured.
Straight back into a World Tour final.

Daniel Marthin’s return alongside former partner Leo Rolly Carnando has instantly reignited one of badminton’s most exciting partnerships.

The Indonesian pair had split in 2024 before Marthin suffered serious knee cartilage damage during the Sudirman Cup and underwent surgery.

This week in Bangkok?

Not bad for a first tournament back.

“My appreciation and respect for him for making it straight to the final in his first tournament after a year away,” said Carnando.

Some partnerships just make sense together.

Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje reached their third consecutive final after defeating Cheng Xing / Zhang Chi in three games.

The Danes:

Quietly, they’re becoming one of the most consistent mixed doubles pairs on tour.

“They play so fast on the racket,” said Bøje of the Chinese pair. “It’s quite hard to find every return that is good enough.”

Mixed doubles continues to feel completely open in 2026 — and Denmark are right in the middle of it.

Akane Yamaguchi claimed her first title of the year — and did it in classic Akane fashion.

Relentless movement.
Relentless retrievals.
Relentless pressure.

Chen Yu Fei briefly found momentum in the second game, but Yamaguchi slowly dragged the match back into her tempo.

And once Yamaguchi controls the rhythm, the court starts feeling very small.

“I’m thrilled to have won because I was able to show a good level,” said the Japanese star.

At full flow, few players in badminton are more exhausting to face.

🇲🇾 Next stop: Malaysia Masters (19–24 May)

The Malaysia Masters arrives with major storylines everywhere.

🇮🇩 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting returns

The former world No.2 is back in the main draw after withdrawals from Shi Yu Qi and Anders Antonsen opened the door.

Still rebuilding after injury, Ginting opens against Malaysian hope Justin Hoh.

A dangerous early-round match.

🇫🇷 France’s momentum to continue

Li Shi Feng returns as defending champion — but the French wave is coming.

The Popov brothers and Alex Lanier arrive in Malaysia still glowing from their Thomas Cup breakthrough and looking increasingly fearless.

🇲🇾 Malaysia’s men’s doubles depth

Seven Malaysian men’s doubles pairs enter the draw.

But notably absent:
❌ defending champions Man Wei Chong / Tee Kai Wun.

Aaron Chia / Soh Wooi Yik lead the home charge as top seeds — although Thailand champions Carnando / Marthin sit dangerously nearby in the draw.

New pairs to keep an eye on - Chia W J/ Teo E Y and Lwi S H/ Ong Y S (in the same quarter!). Malaysia’s rising stars Kang K X/ A Tai.

❤️ Home hopes in mixed doubles

World champions Chen Tang Jie / Toh Ee Wei will try to ignite the home crowd and continue Malaysia’s strong recent XD tradition.

The pressure will be huge.
So will the atmosphere.

🇯🇵 Hina Akechi

Thailand’s Pitchamon Opatniputh deservedly drew attention for her semifinal run.

But quietly, Hina Akechi may have produced one of the week’s most intriguing performances.

The Japanese left-hander:

stunned Ratchanok Intanon
pushed Chen Yu Fei again
continues building momentum

Her style feels almost old-school:

high serves
precision placement
rhythm disruption
elegance over brute force

After several painful World Tour final losses, could 2026 finally become her breakout year?

🇨🇳 Zhu Yi Jun / Li Qian

China’s depth in mixed doubles remains absurd.

Both seeded Chinese pairs crashed out early… and another unseeded Chinese pair still reached the final.

Zhu Yi Jun, the muscular 21-year-old former World Junior champion, is emerging fast.

This was already his fifth World Tour final. The first title feels inevitable.

“I’m amazed. I can’t believe it.”
— Anders Antonsen

“Winning together would be more enjoyable and more cohesive.”
— Daniel Marthin

“I’m thrilled to have won because I was able to show a good level.”
— Akane Yamaguchi

🧠 Kunlavut’s early attack transition

For years, Kunlavut built his game around patience, deception, rally control and counter-attacking.

But recently there’s been a clear shift:
👉 taking the shuttle earlier
👉 attacking sooner
👉 shortening exchanges

Why?

Because modern men’s singles is getting faster.

Watch carefully:

Against Antonsen it nearly worked perfectly.

Under 3×15 scoring?
This evolution could become even more dangerous.

Enjoying this?

Unlock the full story and every issue of The Shuttle Drop. Your weekly badminton update

👉 Subscribe for free

🤳Follow us on Instagram 👉 @theshuttledrop