Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn Spills Blood To Win Badminton World Crown
Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn spilt blood, sweat and finally tears as he became badminton world champion after an attritional 19-21, 21-18, 21-7 victory over Japan's Kodai Naraoka in Copenhagen. The 22-year-old world number three, who was runner-up a year ago, is the first Thai to win the men's singles title at the World Championships. World number four Naraoka, also 22, put Kunlavut through an excruciating match of marathon rallies that lasted 109 minutes on Sunday -- one of the longest men's singles matches ever.