Ikkyu Panichpol, ranked 36th in the world, opened up after defeating the defending champion to reach the quarterfinals of the Thailand Masters badminton tournament.
"Ikkyu" Panichpol Theeraratsakul, ranked 36th worldwide, revealed his thoughts after a strong performance, upsetting the defending champion Jia Heng Jason Teh, the tournament's third seed and world number 23 from Singapore, with a 2-0 win (21-11, 21-18) to advance to the last eight of the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters 2026, a World Tour Super 300 event.
"Ikkyu" said after the match that today's contest was between players with similar styles, so it came down to controlling the pace and mental state.
"Today’s match involved players with quite similar styles, so it was about gaining the advantage and seeing who could better manage pressure and control their impatience."
"My preparation today involved trying to keep a feeling of eagerness because if I played too slowly or passively, I might have been pressured or put on the back foot."
"I have faced my next opponent before, but it was a long time ago during the World Junior Championships. He is not an easy player, and I expect a close contest."
"For this tournament, my goal is to take it round by round. I’m not expecting to win the championship or any specific match. I want to focus on my playing style and personal development, to see if I can perform as well as in practice."
Finally, "Ikkyu" expressed his gratitude to Thai badminton fans: "Thank you to the badminton fans and all Thai supporters who came to cheer for me and everyone in the Thai national team. I believe all the athletes have given their best."