Aya Ohori ends six-year title drought on BWF Word Tour with Thailand Masters 2024 title

This is also the Japanese shuttler’s first big title since 2017.

Aya Ohori on Sunday defeated home favourite Supanida Katethong (18-21, 21-17, 21-13) to win the women’s singles title at the Thailand Masters 2024 and end her title drought of six years. Before her title at the Thailand Masters, Ohori had last won a trophy at the YONEX/K&D Graphics International Challenge in December 2018.

The Thailand Masters Super 300 title is also the Japanese shuttler’s biggest trophy win since the US Open 2017 title. She achieved the feat in 81 minutes having fought back from a game down to clinch the tie.

In the Thailand Masters 2024 final, after losing the opening game Aya Ohori bounced back stronger to win from behind. After winning the title Ohori was so emotional that she fell to the floor as she couldn’t believe her victory.

She also now increased the gap to approx. 6K Points against her compatriot Nozomi Okuhara on the road to Paris Olympics. Coming into the tournament as the third seed, Aya survived the opening hurdle after saving the match point. She then came back from 15-18 down in the quarterfinals against Nozomi Okuhara, surviving two match points to win the match in three games.

In the men’s singles, Chou Tien Chen, who was struggling with form, defeated former World Champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore (21-16, 6-21, 21-16) to win the title. He also becomes the fifth oldest player to win a BWF World Tour title. China’s He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu defeated home favourites Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul (16-21, 21-14, 21-13) to win the men’s doubles title. The Thailand pair had a good run in the tournament.

In mixed doubles, home favourites Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai defeated Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia (21-12, 21-18) to win the second title of the year. The most interesting match was the women’s doubles clash where the Aimsaard sisters won a thriller three-game match to defeat Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min (13-21, 21-17, 27-25).

The decider was a roller coaster as the Chinese pair came back from 10-16 down to set up seven match points opportunity, but the home favourites saved all seven match points and then went on to convert on their first match point opportunity to win the title.

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Aya Ohori’s road to the title

R32 – Defeated Huang Yu Hsun (Chinese Taipei) – 21-16, 18-21, 22-20

R16 – Defeated Julle Dawall Jakobsen (Denmark) – 21-13, 21-7

QF – Defeated Nozomi Okuhara (Japan) – 15-21, 22-20, 21-18

SF – Defeated Busanan Ongbamrungphan (Thailand) – 21-16, 21-12

Final – Defeated Supanida Katethong (Thailand) – 18-21, 21-17, 21-13

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