Bangkok: Thailand’s badminton ace Boonsak Ponsana has withdrawn from next week’s world championships due to an ankle injury.
The 32-year-old shuttler said he was recovering well from the injury but it was too soon for him to return to action at the world championships to be held in Copenhagen from Aug 25-31.
Boonsak said it was a pity that he could not take part in the tournament as he hoped to get good results to move up in the world rankings.
He started the season at No.6 but is now 13th following several poor results.
Boonsak hopes to be fit for next month’s Asian Games to be held in Incheon, South Korea.
Ratchanok Intanon is also not fully fit in the defence of her title in Copenhagen.
But the world No.6, who was sidelined due to illness recently, said she was not worried much about her result in Copenhagen.
“I am not 100 percent fit for the tournament,” said the 18-year-old who aims to reach the quarter-finals.
Fourth seed Ratchanok got a bye in the first round and will face compatriot Busanan Ongbumrungpan or Beatriz Corralez of Spain in the second round.
She could meet 14th seed Nichaon Jindapon, another Thai, in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s miserable luck with injuries has continued with Simon Santoso the latest shuttler forced to withdraw from next week’s world championships after contracting dengue fever.
