Ratchanok Intanon was born to be a shuttler as she grew up at badminton courts. She was three months old when her parents moved from Yasothon to work at Banthongyord dessert factory in Nakhon Pathom _ and that was the beginning of Ratchanok the badminton player.
''I started playing badminton when I was six years old,'' she says on her Facebook page. ''I was so naughty that Mother Puk was worried that I could get hurt by the hot syrup so she took me to play badminton.''
Mother Puk, or Kamala Thongkorn, owner of Banthongyord factory, then set up a badminton facility near the factory, which is now Banthongyord badminton school.
From being a naughty girl she has become a player with discipline and a world champion at both junior and senior levels.
Ratchanok's triumph at the world championships yesterday has not only opened a new chapter in the history of both Thailand and international badminton but also helped restore the country's sporting pride.
At 18, she became the youngest ever and Thailand's first ever shuttler to win a world title, following her 22-20, 18-21, 21-14 victory over China's top seed Li Xuerui in the women's singles final in Guangzhou.
The feat was even more outstanding as Li is the reigning Olympic champion and had the advantage of playing on home soil.
Ratchanok's win helped erase the black mark surrounding Thai badminton following an on-court brawl between compatriots Bodin Issara and Maneepong Jongjit in the men's doubles final at the Canada Open last month.
The Badminton World Federation has suspended Bodin for two years and Maneepong for three months.
''This is good news for my country,'' Ratchanok said after her win over India's PV Sindhu in the semi-finals at the Guangzhou championships. ''Thai people have forgiven the two players and I want to bring good news to them.''
Apart from yesterday's feat, Ratchanok has created several other records.
She became the youngest ever player to win the world junior title in 2009 when she was 14, the first to retain the title the following year and the first to claim the crown three times in 2011.
Kamala said the girl's success was a result of her hard work, strict discipline and obedience to coaches.
Xie Shi Hua, a Chinese coach at Banthongyord, once said Ratchanok's strongest point was her mental strength and ability to deal with the pressure.
''I train her harder than the others because right from the start she has had a lot of patience,'' Xie said.
Charoen Wattanasin, former president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, recently said Ratchanok was the best Thai player he has ever seen.
''She was born to be a badminton player,'' said Charoen. ''I have been in badminton for over half a century and she is the most talented Thai player I have ever seen.''