Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon is unofficially the new world No.1 after defeating Chinese defending champion Sun Yu in the Superseries Singapore Open finals on Sunday afternoon.
Ratchanok, better known as Nong Mei, is the first woman in the world to complete a hat-trick of badminton titles and the first Thai female athlete to claim No.1 in the world rankings. Flyweight boxer Pone Kingpetch was Thailand's first world champion in 1960.
The Thai shuttler beat her Chinese counterpart by two sets to one (18-21, 21-11 and 21-14). Sun, the world No.14, took the first set but made several unforced errors later on.
Prior to the championship match, Ratchanok wrote on her Facebook account: "Hello final ... Make it happen." She also headlined a photograph of herself: "Now I feel I can be No.1."
Sun now has lost to Ratchanok five times in six meetings.
Ratchanok recently won the Yonex Sunrise India Open 2016 and the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open 2016.
The 21-year-old will return home on Monday, arriving at Don Mueang airport at 11.35am.