Thailand’s women’s doubles pair, Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, are anticipated to announce their retirement soon.
The duo, who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 5, have been removed from the world rankings, suggesting that their official retirement announcement is imminent.
Both 31 years old, Jongkolphan and Rawinda were gold medalists at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games and played a key role in helping Thailand secure the runner-up position at the 2018 Uber Cup in Bangkok.
The pair also competed in the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics but were eliminated in the group stage.
Jongkolphan Kititharakul (Thai: จงกลพรรณ กิติธรากุล, March 1, 1993) is a Thai female badminton player specializing in doubles events.
In April 2013, Jongkornphan Jiditrakorn competed in the Lakfish Badminton International Series with Rojana Chuttabundekorn and Padipat Chalachalam, respectively. In the women’s doubles final, they were defeated 0-2 (17-21, 10-21) by the tournament’s No. 2 seed and teammates’ Nalisa Pha Ram/Phutita Supachai Kung. As for the mixed doubles, the performance was outstanding to win the title with a 2-0 (21-12, 21-11) sweep over teammates’ Wannawa Ambusuwan/Rojana Chuttabun Digong.
In July 2015, Jongkornphan Jiditrakorn represented Kasem Bundit University of Thailand at the World University Games badminton tournament in Gwangju City, South Korea, winning the bronze medal in the mixed team.
In August 2015, Trongkorn Phan Jiditrakorn and Ravinda Ba Jong Ja played in the Vietnam Badminton Grand Prix, sweeping the tournament’s No. 8 seed, Suki Riki Andini/Maretta Deya Giovanni of Indonesia, 2-0 (21-14, 21-12) in the final to win the first title since the two teamed up.
In January 2018, Jongkorn Phan Jiditrakorn played in the Thailand Badminton Masters with Rawinda Bazongya and Nitipong Pampupek, respectively. In the women’s doubles final, the pair knocked off the tournament’s No. 2 seed, Indonesia’s Ingea Sita Avanda/Ni Ketut Mahadevi Istrani, 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) to win the title.
World Ranking – Women’s Doubles 9, Week 32, 2024
Olympic Points – Women’s Doubles 10, 69138 points
Finals Ranking – Women’s Doubles 15, 39390 points
Equipment Used
75TH 65Z2; BG-65Ti; DUORA 10 YX Orange-Blue; NANOFLARE 700 New Color; DUORA 7; DUORA 7 Dark Gunmetal Gray
Major Achievements
2024 Thailand Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Champion
2024 Asian Badminton Championships Women’s Team Runner-up
2024 Indonesia Badminton Masters Women’s Doubles Final Four
2023 French Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Runner-up
2023 Arctic Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Runner-up
2022 Hangzhou Asian Games Badminton Women’s Team 3rd Runner-up Member
2023 Canadian Open Badminton Women’s Doubles quarter-finalist
2023 Thailand Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Quarter-finalist
2023 Southeast Asian Games Badminton Women’s Team Gold Medalist
2023 Asian Badminton Championships Women’s Doubles Quarter-finals
2023 Indonesia Badminton Masters Women’s Doubles quarter-finals
2022 Hailu Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Runner-up
2022 Denmark Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Final Four
2022 Indonesia Badminton Open Women’s Doubles quarter-finals
2022 Uber Cup Women’s Team 3rd Runner-up Member
2022 Swiss Open Badminton Women’s Doubles quarter-finals
2022 German Badminton Open Women’s Doubles quarter-finals
2021 Indonesia Badminton Open Women’s Doubles quarter-finals
2021 Hailu Badminton Open Women’s Doubles quarter-finals
2021 Denmark Badminton Open Women’s Doubles quarter-finals
Thai pair Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai faced a crushing defeat on their way to the quarterfinals but bravely acknowledged their shortcomings, which led to their loss.
In the match against Sara Thygesen and Maiken Fruergaard, seven match points came and went—if they had won, it would have been the Thai pair’s second victory in the group stage. Kititharakul and Prajongjai couldn’t withstand the Danish pair’s rear-court attack, and the Danes clinched the match from the jaws of defeat in the third game. The scores of 20-22, 23-21, 24-22 marked the closest and certainly the most nerve-wracking encounter of the Paris 2024 tournament so far.
“There’s not much to say because we really regret it,” Kititharakul said, barely able to speak in the face of painful disappointment. “We could have won in two games, but we gave them the opportunity, so we have to accept that and fight for tomorrow’s match. We must fight; tomorrow will be tough for us, but we must fight.”
Fruergaard and Thygesen Overjoyed
Her partner Prajongjai looked equally dejected but also admitted to her part in the loss: “I put pressure on myself and wasn’t 100% focused on the game plan. When we were leading, they started catching up, and I just lacked confidence. It’s really disappointing that we had such a big lead but couldn’t get that one point.”
The Danish team’s victory is their second in the group, almost guaranteeing them a place in the quarterfinals.
“This was one of the craziest matches, with a lively atmosphere and constant cheering,” Thygesen said. “The match was highly intense… mentally very challenging, with both sides in a tug-of-war. It was a wild and intense game.
“Sometimes we perform best when we are behind. I wasn’t actually that nervous. I was more nervous at the start than at the end. We’re good at telling each other what to do, staying focused, taking it one rally at a time, and pushing through, and they started getting nervous.”
