Kunlavut Vitidsarn stayed on course for his first World Tour title in Japan after reaching the men's singles quarter-finals of the BWF Kumamoto Masters Japan 2026 yesterday, but women's defending champion Ratchanok Intanon crashed out in the last-16 round.
World No.3 Kunlavut, who is seeded second in Japan this week, defeated South Korea's Yoo Tae-Bin 21-19, 21-14 to progress to the last eight of the Super 500 event. He will face a tough match against seventh seed Toma Junior Popov of France on Friday.
Ratchanok's title defence ended early as the Thai fourth seed fell to Lin Hsiang-ti of Taiwan in two games, 15-21, 19-21 on Thursday.
Another Thai player, Supanida Katethong, also exited the tournament as she lost to top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-18, 11-21, 13-21.
Their exits mean Pornpawee Chochuwong is the only Thai player left in the women's singles event, as the sixth seed beat Natsuki Nidaira of Japan 21-10, 21-14.
Pornpawee will meet third seed Chen Yufei of China in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Mixed doubles defending champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran also crashed out as they lost to Japan's Akira Koga and Natsu Saito 15-21, 7-21 in just 33 minutes.
The tournament also lost its men's top seed Christo Popov as the Frenchman was sent packing by Moh Zaki Ubaidillah of Indonesia 15-21, 19-21.