World No 4 Ratchanok Intanon hopes that home support will boost Thailand’s hopes of achieving a “Mission Impossible” in the Thomas and Uber Cups, which take place at the Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani from May 20 to 27.

The former world No 1 will lead the local 10-player team into the women’s biennual Uber Cup, which consists of 16 teams divided into four groups of four.

Thailand is placed in Group B along with Germany, Hong Kong and Taiwan, who are spearheaded by world No 1 Tai Tzu-ying.

The Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) is confident the women, who are seeded fourth, will finish top of their group and then win at least their quarter-final too.

The top two teams in each group move into the quarter-finals, the same format as for the men’s Thomas Cup

The 23-year-old Ratchanok said her squad could live up to the expectations if a huge turn-up assembled to support the Thai women.

“We have a good draw and stand a shot at winning the group stage but after that it will be really tough,” said Ratchanok, winner of the February’s Malaysian Masters, where she upset world No 1 Tai in a nailbiting final.

“However, if a lot of fans come to cheer, it can be a great driving force for us to go even further.”

The Thai ace says she is quite excited to take on her Taiwanese arch-rival on home soil for the first time, with all of their previous 20 encounters having been played overseas. Ratchanok leads 11-9 in the head-to-heads.

“I’m looking forward to playing her in front of the home fans. It will be a great opportunity for them to see all the big stars in actions here,” she added.

Ratchanok’s teammates in the singles are Thai No 2 Nitchaon Jindapol (world No 11), Thai No 3 Busanan Ongbumrungphan (world No 24) and Thai number 4  Pornpawee Chochuwong (world No 25).

In the women’s doubles, the top-ranked Thai pair of Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai (world-ranked eight) are backed up by Thai No 2 Chayanit Chaladchalam and Phathaimas Muenwong, plus Thai No 3 Sapsiree Taerattanachai and Puttita Supajirakul.

In the men’s Thomas Cup, Thailand has been drawn into a tough B group with 13-time champions Indonesia, powerful South Korea and Canada.

“As the men’s team is in a very tough group, we hope they can finish second and reach the last eight. We hope they will surprise us,” said BAT president Khun Ying Patama Leesawadtrakul.

Thai No 1 Khosit Phetpradab (world No 25) will spearhead the men’s singles, along with Thai No 2 Suppanyu Avihingsanon, (world no 27), Thai No 3 Kantaphon Wangcharoen (world No 36) and Thai No 4 Pannawit Thongnuam (world No 49).

In the men’s doubles the top-ranked Thai pairing of Tinn Isriyanet and Kittisak Namdash (world No 24) are supported by Thai No 2 Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Kittinupong Kerden plus Thai No 3 Nipitphon Phuangphupet and Tanupat Viriyangkura.

“It would have been tough whichever group we had been placed in,” said Khosit, who comes from Chiang Mai. “As the No 1 player, I’m a bit nervous as I need to win every point for the team.”

Thailand’s best result in the Thomas Cup was reaching the final in 1961 while the women’s best Uber Cup effort was making the semi-finals in 2012.

Professor (Special) Charoen Wattanasin, vice president and deputy chairman for marketing and rights commission of the Olympic Committee of Thailand (OCT) said CP would support safe and clean Thai food for more than 800 athletes and officials, as well as over 100 media members working in Indonesia.

The deal means all those involved will get an international roaming SIM card so they can keep in touch with each other, as well as with their families back home.

He also added that OCT was aiming to better the 12 gold medals achieved at the 2014 Games in South Korea.

A top-five finish in the medal table is another of the OCT’s goals.

Kachorn Chiaravanont, Member of the Executive Committee, Charoen Pokphand Group, said: “We’ve provided food and telecommunication support to the national team since the 2016 Olympic Games, so will select only those menus that suit their tastes, which will be clean, safe, and nutritious, for all athletes.”

One of CP’s subsidiary companies, True Corporation, will provide TrueMove H roaming SIM cards so the country’s athletes, coaches, officials and media can make phone calls, receive calls, send messages and use non-stop 4G and 3G data services during the 16-day event.

The 2018 Asian Games will take place from 18 August to 2 September in Jakarta and Palembang, when 45 nations will participate in 40 sports for a total of 462 gold medals.

The 42 sports are  1) aquatics (swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water polo), 2) archery, 3) athletics, 4) badminton, 5) baseball/ softball, 6) basketball, 7) bowling, 8) boxing, 9) contract bridge, 10) canoeing-kayaking, 11) cycling, 12) equestrian, 13) fencing, 14) football, 15) golf, 16) gymnastics, 17) handball, 18) hockey, 19) jet ski, 20) judo, 21) kabaddi, 22) karate, 23) martial arts, 24) modern pentathlon, 25) paragliding, 26) rowing, 27) rugby sevens, 28) sailing, 29) sepak takraw, 30) shooting, 31) sport climbing, 32) squash, 33) table tennis, 34) taekwondo, 35) tennis, 36) triathlon, 37) volleyball, 38) weightlifting, 39) wrestling, and 40) roller sports (inline speed skating and skateboarding).

In the past Games, Thailand won 121 gold, 159 silver and 233 bronze medals, in total. Four years ago, Thailand won 12 gold, 7 silver and 28 bronze medals, and finished sixth in Korea (with China, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan and Iran in the top five respectively.)

The Brazilian put the home side ahead in just the sixth minute when he got on the end of Yoo Jun-su’s cross to head the ball back across goal and out of the reach of Song Beom-keun.

One of Jeonbuk’s own Brazilians, Adriano, had a chance to draw the visitors level after 17 minutes but his header lacked any power and was easily saved by Sivarak Tedsungnoen.

In the first minute of the second half Kim Shin-wook had a header saved off the line by Sivarak as Choi Kang-hee’s side turned up the heat in search of an equaliser, and it would come just five minutes later.

Kim was involved in the lead up play, chesting a long-ball down on the edge of his area for Ricardo Lopes to run onto, with the Brazilian driving into the area and shooting past a helpless Sivarak.

Buriram didn’t let the setback slow them down as they continued to push forward and but for an outstanding tackle from Lee Yong, Diogo would’ve been through one-on-one with Song just before the hour mark.

But you can’t keep a good man down and right on the hour mark Diogo produced a piece of magic from a free kick to restore the home side’s lead.

The Thunder Castle erupted just less than ten minutes later when a lung-bursting run from Edgar Silva produced one of the best goals of the campaign as he weaved his way past the Jeonbuk defence to put his side 3-1 up.

Diogo almost had a brace of his own, but his volleyed effort was well saved by Song on 80 minutes as Bozidar Bandovic’s men continued to push forward in search of more goals, but instead it was Jeonbuk who scored again as Son Jun-ho’s 91st minute effort ensured they return home for the second leg with two away goals to their name.

The tie is now finely balanced as the two teams prepare to fly to Jeonju for next week’s second leg.

Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series is a travel series talent search which runs in 30-minute episodes. The show aims to discover new martial arts talent across Asia, providing promising young athletes with the platform to unleash their martial arts greatness.

Franklin, who serves as the show’s host, travels across the Asian continent with co-host Jonathan Fong, searching for talent, while experiencing local cultures and testing their boundaries. Deserving prospects are rewarded with a USD 100,000++ contract with ONE Championship.

Rich Franklin, CEO of ONE Warrior Series, stated: “In the second season of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series, Jonathan and I decided to not only hold tryouts, but to also travel to local schools scouting any talent that stands out. We will leave no stone unturned, as we will travel throughout Indonesia and Malaysia, stopping in Bali and Kota Kinabalu to name a couple. We will also stop in Labuan, Brunei, Phuket, Yangon and Baguio, before we head back to South Korea, Japan and China in North Asia.”

Jonathan Fong, Director and Co-Host of ONE Warrior Series, stated: “After recruiting a talented roster in our pilot season, Rich and I realized that not all the best martial artists necessarily come from the largest and busiest cities. Many of them train in solace, free from other pursuits to be able to chase their dreams with minimal distractions. There are gems scattered across Asia and we intend to find them.”

Season 1 of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series concluded earlier this year. Three prospects were awarded ONE Championship contracts worth USD 100,000++, namely Rockie Bactol of the Philippines, and South Korean martial artists Woonkyum Kim and Daesong Park.

In addition, a fourth ONE Warrior Series entrant, Akihiro Fujisawa, was promoted straight into a ONE Championship contract during filming of the first season. He made his promotional debut at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR in Manila last 20 April, defeating Kaji Ebin via technical knockout, earning him the first tranche of the six-figure contract.

Andrew Benibe, a household name in the established local mixed martial arts scene in the Philippines, will be part of the entourage of Trinidad as she is scheduled to square off with hometown hero Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol on the undercard of ONE: GRIT AND GLORY in Jakarta, Indonesia.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for a young and dedicated cage competitor like Trinidad when she yielded to Thai standout Rika Ishige in her promotional debut this past December.

Trinidad suffered a second-round submission loss to Ishige at ONE: WARRIORS OF THE WORLD in the Thai dynamo’s homebase of Bangkok, failing to ace her maiden assignment under the ONE Championship banner.

Although the thrilling atomweight bout against Ishige put fans at the state-of-the-art Impact Arena on the edge of their seats, Trinidad was left disappointed with the outcome of the match.

“I believe that I could have done better in that match, but I came up short. I just realized that there was something missing,” she admitted.

“It was my first time to fight internationally, and I lost. It gave me motivation to keep going, get better, and be more aggressive. Most of all, it taught me to be humble in all aspects of my life,” Trinidad added.

The submission defeat to Ishige forced Trinidad to reassess on how she handles her training camp when she prepares for an upcoming bout.

During her time of contemplation, Trinidad found a much-needed help in Benibe, a former Philippine bantamweight champion who currently works a mixed martial arts trainer at Maic’s Gym in Marikina City.

“Right now, I have a tremendous support system in my training, especially with the help of my coach Andrew Benibe. He knows how to bring out the best in me,” Trinidad said of Benibe.

Having 17 professional bouts under his belt, Benibe has been a staple of the Philippine mixed martial arts circuit since 2006 and has shared the stage with the industry’s notable figures such as Mark Eddiva, Jessie Rafols, Will Chope, Reysaldo Transmonte and Mark Striegl.

Moreover, Benibe made a one-off appearance inside the ONE Championship cage when he took on Team Lakay’s Honorio Banario at the organization’s first event on Philippine soil in August 2012.

Now sitting on the coach’s stool to oversee Trinidad’s training, Benibe claimed that his pupil is ready for anything as they have been working on all elements of the game in preparation of her cage encounter with Gaol.

“We have trained her for both stand-up and grappling in anticipation of anything,” he shared. “But whatever the condition, Rome Trinidad’s best bet is a stand-up game and finishing the match with striking.”

The partnership between Trinidad and Benibe will be tested for the very first time as the Filipina combatant returns to action on Saturday to face the hot-streaking Gaol at ONE: GRIT AND GLORY.

Gaol has won two-straight matches to kick off her 2018, defeating Malaysia’s Audreylaura Boniface via first-round stoppage last January before submitting Filipina newcomer Krisna Limbaga a month later.

The 21-year-old Marikina City resident seeks to make an astonishing statement in her second ONE Championship outing as she battles Gaol at ONE: GRIT AND GLORY.

“I want to win so bad. I have dreams and aspirations as a competitor. In order to turn those into a reality, I have to win first. This is the first step,” she stated.

With the desire to reinsert her name into the winner’s column, Trinidad is confident that her support system has geared her up splendidly for her three-round clash with Gaol on Saturday

“I have the best coach in my corner. I trained with the most talented athletes in the sport for this bout. With that said, I’m oozing with confidence coming into this match because I have my team behind me,” she concluded.

“He is fully motivated but sad that he can’t train with us. He will be there to support us tomorrow at the Stade de France and I think he’ll be happy,” Silva told reporters at a press conference on Monday ahead of the game.

Neymar returned to Paris on Friday to continue his recovery, two months after undergoing surgery on a broken bone in his foot in his native Brazil.

He is unlikely to play again for PSG this season, his focus now on being ready in time for Brazil’s World Cup bid in June and July.

Silva added: “Neymar is doing well. It’s clear he’s making progress. He’s already working in the gym.”

PSG are overwhelming favourites to beat third-tier strugglers Les Herbiers in Tuesday’s game at the Stade de France, having already won the Ligue 1 title and the League Cup this season.

They were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in the last 16, shortly after Neymar suffered his injury in a game against Marseille.

The 12-time major champion could now face Kyle Edmund in round two, if the Briton wins his own awkward opener on Tuesday against the talented Daniil Medvedev.

Not long ago, Djokovic versus Nishikori would have been a match for the latter stages of a grand slam but struggles with fitness and form caused these two to meet first up on Manolo Santana.

Djokovic prevailed 7-5, 6-4, producing some scintillating tennis when it mattered most to register his first win over a top-20 opponent since the Serb beat Gael Monfils at Eastbourne in June last year.

At their best, Djokovic and Nishikori were perhaps the game’s two outstanding athletes, renowned for their speed in defence and stamina over five sets.

But injuries, to the wrist for Nishikori and elbow for Djokovic, have left each attempting recoveries and it was certainly evident here that both are still some way away.

If Edmund beats Medvedev, he may fancy his chances against a player he is yet to take a set off in three meetings.

Djokovic, however, will be keen to draw on the positives. His movement was better and he delivered in the crunch moments. There were also a handful of breathtaking retrievals the 30-year-old would have been proud of in his prime.

Four games both players would have liked to forget prompted an exchange of breaks in the middle of the opening set but Djokovic stepped up a gear at 5-4.

Nishikori resisted two rasping forehands but finally caved two games later as Djokovic clinched the frame.

Djokovic seemingly defied physics by lashing one smash into the net early in the second but found his groove again at 5-4, breaking Nishikori to seal victory in just under two hours.

Maria Sharapova’s clay-court revival is also gathering pace after the Russian had earlier eased past Romanian big-hitter Irina-Camelia Begu in the women’s tournament.

Sharapova arrived in Spain on the back of four consecutive defeats but two wins, the latest a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Begu, have sent the 31-year-old into the last 16.

France’s Kristina Mladenovic will now await Sharapova, who is showing signs of rhythm ahead of the French Open later this month, which she won in 2012 and 2014.

The Welshman won a gripping final 18-16 to add to his titles in 2000 and 2003.

Higgins, 42 and seeking a fifth title, fought back from a seven-frame deficit to draw level at 15-15, but Williams held on to take the sport’s showcase.

It capped a remarkable late-career revival as he did not even qualify for the championships in 2017, and last reached the final 15 years ago, when he defeated Ken Doherty.

“Last year I watched this in a caravan having some beers. I just can’t believe it. Last year I was seriously thinking of giving up” Williams told the BBC.

He was 15-10 up, three frames away from the title, after Monday’s afternoon session having started the day 10-7 up following Sunday’s opening exchange.

He stormed seven frames clear when taking Monday’s first four frames but Higgins fought back to avoid heading home early.

Higgins said: “Today I was 13-7 behind and I was worried if I would take it to the fourth session, I didn’t want to lose with a session to spare.

“It was a good match to watch but obviously I’m disappointed. He is a great champion.”

The two fortysomethings received a standing ovation at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre as they emerged for the concluding evening session.

And Higgins had the captivated crowd on the edge of their seats as he compiled a stunning 131 break after a costly error by Williams to take the 27th frame to make it 15-11.

That was the Scot’s fourth century in the final.

And he clawed back to within three frames when taking the next. Williams then seemingly had it for the taking, but another mistake at 58-1 saw Higgins return to the table with a clearance of 67.

Snooker great Steve Davis, a six-time world champion and commentating now for the BBC, said Higgins had “thrown a hand grenade into Mark Williams’ brain” with those two quickfire frames.

And so it proved as he rattled a red around the jaws of a pocket to let Higgins in with a chance at 47-0.

Showing nerves of steel Higgins nicked the frame with a break of 82. A pensive Williams, biting his lip, could only sit and suffer, his lead now cut to two.

Higgins steamrollered the next 91-0 to leave the final tantalisingly poised at 15-14 as the players took a 10 minute time out.

After a much needed cuppa the two veteran stars of the green baize resumed hostilities, with ice-cool Higgins drawing level at 15-15.

Williams finally stopped Higgins’s miraculous march to take the 31st and 32nd frames to leave ‘the Welsh potting machine’ just one shy of the greatest prize in the sport.

Williams was one pot away from victory but he missed a pink in the next. Higgins, 63-0 behind, yet again defied the odds to steal the frame with a clearance of 65 and get back to within one.

But Williams wasn’t to be denied, sealing the championship in the next frame in what Davis called “the best final ever”.

Williams is the oldest world champion since his fellow countryman Reardon won in 1978 at the age of 45.

Yodsanklai Fairtex will make his debut under the promotion’s banner on 18 May at ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS in Singapore as part of the talented ONE Super Series roster.

The 32-year-old native of Nong Bua Lamphu, Thailand is slated to lock horns with Congolese-Dutch spitfire Chris “The African Warrior” Ngimbi in a three-round kickboxing showdown.

Known by the moniker “The Boxing Computer” as a testament to his impeccable in-ring techniques, he has won numerous championships in his stellar kickboxing career, including the WBC Super Welterweight Muay Thai World Championship and the coveted Lumpinee Stadium World Championship.

Yodsanklai believes that by joining the organization’s ONE Super Series, it opens a new chapter in his illustrious kickboxing stint.

“I’ve been around for a long time. I am looking for a spark to bring back the luster of my career. I think this is the right path for me and my professional career,” he said.

“Fighting is in my blood. I still have the hunger to compete with the best out there. I see that ONE Super Series has a great pool of roster. Bring it on,” Yodsanklai added.

Yodsanklai initially called it a career in May 2017, but he opted to come out of retirement this past February to outclass German Enriko Kehl in Shenzhen, China.

“I couldn’t stay away from the ring for that long. The desire to compete, it’s still in me. I am glad that I was able to make a comeback earlier this year because it prepared me for ONE Super Series. It’s a great opportunity,” he stated.

A veteran of over 250 bouts with nearly 200 wins to his name, Yodsanklai stressed that he has a lot more to prove as a celebrated kickboxer.

“I am still grinding everyday. You can say that I’ve done it all in the sport, but it’s not yet over for me. With ONE Championship opening its doors for other martial artists like me to join and showcase our talent on a global stage, it means that I have work to do,” he explained.

A southpaw with a tremendously powerful left kick and pinpoint accurate hands, Yodsanklai promises to exhibit his heavily-praised fearsome form in his maiden ONE Super Series appearance.

Sharing the ONE Championship stage with Yodsanklai is Ngimbi, a Congolese-Dutch kickboxer who hails from Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Having nearly 70 bouts under his belt, Ngimbi has a long list of international accolades as a competitor.

Ngimbi looks to bolster his glowing repertoire as a global kickboxing superstar by battling Yodsanklai in ONE Super Series.

“The whole world will be watching. I have a top-notch opponent in front of me. It doesn’t make me nervous. It should be fun,” Yodsanklai declared.

Formidably established himself as one of the best kickboxers in the word, Yodsanklai is delighted over the fact that his ONE Super Series debut will take place in Singapore.

In Singapore, Yodsanklai gained international attention when he won “The Contender Asia” reality television series in 2008, defeating Australian rival John Wayne Parr in the final round.

“Singapore is where it all started. It was the beginning of something special and the run speaks for itself. Singapore will always be dear to me in that way,” he asserted.

Yodsanklai treats his upcoming encounter with Ngimbi as the most significant bout in his career because it could catapult him back to the global kickboxing limelight.

“I am looking for an electrifying win. This bout could bring me back to the top. Knocking him out will be an accomplishment because he is talented and a tough opponent. You will all witness it on 18th of May,” he concluded.

Park fired a five-under par 66 to finish the 36-hole event at 11-under 131 at Old American Golf Club near Dallas for a one-stroke victory over American Duncan with Chinese rookie Liu Yu another shot adrift in third on 133.

Park’s pitching wedge chip-in at the 18th hole provided her margin of victory over Duncan, who closed with three birdies in a row after Park was in the clubhouse, and Liu, who like Duncan had a career-best LPGA finish.

“I knew it was a pretty important shot,” Park said through a translator. “That shot was a difficult situation for me but I’m glad I made it.”

It was the third LPGA title for Park, who captured her first major crown last July in the Open at Trump National and added the Canadian Women’s Open six weeks later.

Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and South Korea Kim Sei-young shared fourth with South Korean Jenny Shin and India’s Aditi Ashok on 135.

Ariya shot a 67 on Sunday to land inside the top 10 for the seventh time this season. Sister Moriya, with three under-par-139, was at tied 23rd.

Storms that wiped out almost all play Thursday and Friday forced organizers to trim the event to 36 holes, with the final round starting Saturday afternoon.

Ashok, seeking her first LPGA title, birdied the par-5 15th on a five-foot putt and closed with three pars. The 20-year-old Olympian from Bangalore, three times a winner on the Ladies European Tour, completed a 66 to grab the early clubhouse lead.

“I’m happy,” Ashok said. “I came back one better than I left so that’s good.”

But 18-hole co-leader Park had yet to start her final round after opening on 65 and made her charge in the afternoon.

Park opened with a bogey but eagled the par-5 fifth and followed with birdies at the sixth, eighth and ninth before a bogey-birdie start to the back nine left her ahead by three with seven holes remaining.

After six pars, Park was off the green with her approach at 18 but punched a bouncing pitching wedge shot up the green and into the hole for a closing birdie that all-but sealed the title.

Duncan, finishing on the front nine, fired a 64 that included a costly lip-out tap-in for par to bogey the sixth. She closed with three consecutive birdies but was one shot shy of Park, settling for a career-best runner-up finish.

“It sure did feel like a back-nine Sunday atmosphere,” Duncan said. “It was a great day. A crazy week but it was a great tournament.”

Liu eagled the eighth, her penultimate hole, but like Duncan couldn’t make an unlikely hole-out from the fairway to match Park.

“This was a great confidence booster for myself to know I can contend out here,” Liu said. “I was mentally strong, focused on one shot at a time, and it really worked out.”