Thailand's Uber Cup team had to settle for a bronze medal after losing to China 3-0 in the semi-finals of the BWF world women's team championship in Aarhus, Denmark, on Friday. The last-four meeting was a rematch of the 2018 championship, won by Thailand 3-2. Thailand suffered the worst possible start when the country's top singles player Ratchanok Intanon was forced to pull out of the opening match with a shoulder injury. Ratchanok's much-anticipated participation lasted just seven points after the world No.6 withdrew from her singles match against Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Chen Yufei. It was Ratchanok's first tournament back since the Olympics. The 26-year-old former world champion took some time off from the sport following her mother's death in August. Tokyo Games silver medallists Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan put China 2-0 ahead with a 21-15, 21-10 doubles win against Rawinda Prajongjai and Puttita Supajirakul. He Bingjiao then defeated Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-15, …
China
Recovery slowly gaining traction
An office worker takes a walk during her lunch hour in Silom — the central business district of Bangkok where certain businesses have reopened. Somchai Poomlard Fitch Ratings expects Thailand's economic recovery to gain traction in 2022, supported by a significant improvement in Covid-19 vaccination rates, business reopening and a still-supportive global growth environment. The return of tourism is likely to be gradual, and Fitch expects GDP to recover to pre-pandemic levels by early 2023. The ratings of most large Thai corporate debt issuers have stabilised, although some sectors, such as banks, retail and hospitality, remain under earnings pressure due to the pandemic, according to Fitch analysts who spoke at a recent annual conference on Thailand held via webinar. Looking at the global economy, strong external demand should continue to support Thailand's exports, said Stephen Schwartz, senior director and head of Asia-Pacific Sovereigns at Fitch. However, he noted that …
Pattaya limbers up
Skies will light up again: The Pattaya International Fireworks Festival is scheduled for Nov 26-27. Every year, fireworks are set off around 8pm from boats not far from Pattaya Klang beach. When Pattaya joins Bangkok, Chiang Mai and 12 other destinations in welcoming back fully vaccinated tourists without the need for quarantine next month, the town will finally return to full throttle. Closed for almost two years, the resort town will restart its tourism sector with major events in November and December including its signature Pattaya Music Festival, Pattaya International Fireworks Festival and Pattaya Countdown to round off 2021. Pattaya was originally scheduled to restart its tourism sector under "Phuket Move On" on Oct 1, but the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) decided to push it back to Nov 1. It was the third postponement since the initial reopening was announced for mid-September, all attributed to a vaccine shortage. Geared toward domestic …
Easing sees domestic flights back at full capacity
Domestic flights have resumed operating at full capacity in line with the latest easing of Covid-19 restrictions which took effect yesterday. Suttipong Kongpool, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), said the revised guidelines for airlines operating domestic flights have lifted capacity limits on domestic flights. The number of passengers was previously limited to 75% of the full capacity. Under the new guidelines which took effect yesterday, airlines can also operate more flights but have to comply with the nighttime curfew which has been shortened by two hours from 11pm to 3am. He said the revisions are in line with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's decision to relax the virus curbs. The airlines are still required to implement in-flight Covid-19 prevention measures, he said. Meanwhile, public health authorities will hold talks with various agencies in the transport and tourism sectors to work out further details ahead of the …