Premier Thai shuttler Ratchanok Intanon is fit and hungry for her third title at the Malaysia Masters 2025.
Intanon is tied at two titles (2018, 2019) with PV Sindhu. If she clinches a third title, this season, she will become the second most successful player behind Lee Chong Wei who has won five titles.
At Kuala Lumpur, the 2013 World Champion feels that she can achieve much more after a 21-14, 21-12 win over Taiwan’s Hung Yi Ting in the second round on Thursday.
“I still feel there’s more I can achieve,” said Ratchanok said.
“My goal this year is to get back into the top eight. But beyond that, I want to fight for a medal at the World Championships and also try to achieve something at the Asian Games because I don’t have any medal there yet. That keeps me going.”
She knows that the higher-level matches will be tough. However, she is keen on becoming a World Champion, again.
“I know how tough it will be. There are many top players now, from China and of course An Se Young. So it’s more challenging for me,” she said.
“But I still believe I can be a world champion again. I try to focus with everything, my mentality, my performance. I fight with everything.”
Intanon will take on Canada’s Michelle Li in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The World No.11 is currently fourth among the ranked Thai players — Pornpawee Chochuwong (world No. 7), Supanida Katethong (No. 9) and Busanan Ongbamrungphan (No. 10) — and doesn’t wants to lose to lower-ranked players.
“Of course, as the top Thai women’s singles player for many years, I don’t want to lose to someone ranked lower than me. But this is sport — there are winners and losers,” said Ratchanok.
“At the same time, I want the younger players to grow stronger. Sometimes, I play really well against other players, but when I face teammates, I might struggle mentally. So this is also a learning experience — for both them and me.”
She is not sure about her future and participation in the LA 2028.
“I don’t know the future,” she said.
“I just go year by year. Next year, it’s the Asian Games — that’s my focus. I’ll see how my body feels, how my fitness holds up. I don’t want to force myself. When you force it, you don’t enjoy playing.”
“But now? I still enjoy the game. I still have the fire.”
Ratchanok first burst onto the scene by winning three consecutive World Junior Championships from 2009 to 2011, and rose to prominence when she became world champion in 2013.
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