In a dramatic women’s singles quarter-final at the PRINCESS SIRIVANNAVARI Thailand Masters 2025, world No. 8 Pornpawee Chochuwong or ‘Mew’ displayed extraordinary resilience to defeat South Korea’s Sim Yu-jin, ranked 19th, in a grueling three-set battle despite suffering an injury mid-match.
Early in the first set, Mew took an unfortunate fall, exhibiting symptoms of a sprained ankle. The injury prompted a brief pause as she assessed her condition. Determined not to disappoint herself or her supporters, Mew chose to continue and remarkably claimed the first game 21-16.
However, the injury visibly affected her movement in the second set. Sim Yu-jin capitalized on Mew’s limited mobility, leveling the match by winning 21-13 and forcing a decisive third set.
Reflecting on her strategy during the match, Mew said:
“I tried to protect myself, hitting only when necessary. There were moments when my opponent made mistakes, and I focused on not giving up control of the game.”
Despite experiencing numbness and moments of discouragement, Mew dug deep and fought on. The audience witnessed her sheer determination as she returned to the court, wielding her racket with grit and tactical precision.
Her fighting spirit paid off as she dominated the final set, clinching victory 21-14 to secure her place in the semi-finals. The crowd erupted into a standing ovation, moved by Mew’s indomitable courage and relentless pursuit of victory.
After the match, Mew acknowledged the need for further medical evaluation to determine her readiness for the semi-final:
“I’ll have to check with my team and see if I can continue tomorrow.”
Credit Photo : BAT
