Bangkok: The Summer Olympic Games will take place in South America for the first time this year, as Rio de Janeiro in Brazil will host the 31st edition of the quadrennial competition.
Thailand’s 21-year-old badminton ace Ratchanok Intanon who dropped one spot to World No. 2 in the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings that released on Thursday, has made it clear that she is “100% confident” of winning a medal from Rio Olympics.
Ratchanok kicked off the 2016 season by sealing three consecutive Superseries titles in three weeks, together with Carolina Marin of Spain, Li Xuerui of China, and Saina Nehwal are considered gold-medal contender in Rio, and will have chance to test their mettle against other top-ranked players from different nations in August.
Although she was defeated by Sayaka Sato of Japan in the second round of Badminton Asia Championships last Thursday, Intanon nevertheless vowed to bring home Thailand’s first ever badminton Olympic medal.
“I would like to win an Olympic medal, it doesn’t matter what medal it is,” said Intanon.
Intanon who was eliminated in the quarter-finals of London 2012 Olympic, was the youngest women’s shuttler ever to win the World Championships.
