Asian Games 2023: Kunlavut Vitidsarn - Thailand's Trump Card in Badminton

Highly talented prodigy from Thailand will be his country's best bet to clinch a gold medal at the prestigious Asian Games. 

The Asian Games are always an exciting event for fans of sports. With 45 nations competing, the Asian Games are the largest multi-sport competition in the world. Every time, fans watch to see who will take home the gold medal in their respective sports, and in 2023, badminton will have a new player ready to announce himself on the big stage. That player is Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Thailand's trump card in badminton.

Humble beginning and bursting to the top

At just 22 years old, Kunlavut Vitidsarn has already made a name for himself in badminton. He was born on May 11, 2001, in Chonburi, Thailand. He was fortunate, as his father was his very first coach and mentor.

Achievements

In 2016, he became the youngest-ever player to win the men's singles event at the World Junior Championships, and he went on to defend his title in 2017 and 2018. He earned the gold medal at the 2023 World Championships and is the men's singles world champion. At the Asian Junior Championships in 2019, where he had previously been awarded a silver and a bronze, he won the gold medal.

In the mixed team competition at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Vitidsarn was a team member who won the silver medal. He received the Eddy Choong Most Promising Player award for 2020–2021. He obtained the silver medal in the senior division at the 2022 World Championships and the gold medal at the 2023 World Championships. He was the first Thai player to triumph in the men's singles division at the World Championships.

In addition, Vitidsarn has also won several international tournaments, including the India Open, the Thailand Open, and the German Open. All of this success has made him one of the top young players in the world.

Asian Games: Target-locked

Now, Vitidsarn is preparing for the 2023 Asian Games, where he hopes to continue his streak of success. Thailand has a strong history in badminton, with several top players in the sport over the years, and Vitidsarn is the latest in a long line of talented athletes from the country.

Vitidsarn's success can be attributed to a few key factors. First, he has an incredible work ethic. From a young age, he has dedicated himself to the sport, training every day and constantly pushing himself to improve.

In addition, Vitidsarn has incredible technical skills. He has a powerful smash and is adept at attacking and defensive shots. He also has a solid mental game, remaining calm and focused even in high-pressure situations. These skills have helped him win numerous matches and titles throughout his career. Despite his youth, Vitidsarn has already shown that he can compete with some of the best players in the world.

Vitidsarn will face fierce opposition at the 2023 Asian Games from athletes like Chou Tien-Chen from Taiwan and Kento Momota from Japan. However, he is confident in his abilities and focused on working hard to achieve his goals. Thailand's national badminton coach, Patama Leeswadtrakul, is also optimistic about Vitidsarn's abilities. The Asian Games are set to be held in Hangzhou from September 23 to October 8, 2023.