Host Thailand's gold hopeful Boonsak Ponsana, world number nine, took his revenge, overcoming former Chinese international Chen Hong, world number two, 2-1 to win the men's singles badminton title at the World Universiade in Bangkok on Wednesday.

 

Boonsak, nicknamed the Superman in Thailand, flung his racket into the air and threw himself on his back after he came back from behind to clinch the three-set thriller 17-21, 21-15, 21-17 in 56 minutes.

 

Chen, who left the Chinese national team early this year but kept competing in the world, upset Boonsak, winner of Singapore Open in April, in the Thai Open final on July 11. Boonsak burst into tears at that moment.

 

In the much-hyped final today, Ponsana soon fell to Chen in the opening set.

 

In the second set, Chen was off to a 4-0 lead but the 25-year- old Boonsak clawed back some points to level at 6-6.

 

The pair exchanged a dozen of shots before Boonsak grabbed the lead at 7-6, which drew deafening cheers from the capacity spectators in the Gymnasium 2 on Thammasat University.

 

Boonsak went on to clinch the second set and opened the decisive set with a 4-1 advantage.

 

The fast-paced Thai cashed in on the 28-year-old Chen's errors to lead at 19-15.

 

Boonsak was met with some resistance from the twice All-England champion and double Thamos Cup winner before he smashed on Chen's serve to seal the victory.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2007)