NEW DELHI: There is a certain inevitability in the way Kunlavut Vitidsarn wins his matches. Points are rarely rushed. Games are rarely short. Opponents are rarely allowed to escape without being dragged into long rallies that test lungs, legs and patience.On the field, the Thai shuttler has a calm, almost monk-like demeanor. But beneath that calmness lies a keen understanding of how to tire his opponents both physically and mentally. That’s why he’s known around the circuit as the ‘Three-Game God’.
He is the current world number 2, Olympic silver medalist and someone who has turned patience into a weapon and defense into a launching pad for attack. His game is based on absorbing pressure, prolonging rallies and forcing opponents to play one more stroke, and then another until the resistance breaks.“I rely on patience and rallies, but when you have to, you have to attack and increase the pressure on the opponent. At that point, and it varies from tournament to tournament, you have to use a lot of strength. Sometimes you can’t control everything and dictate what you want… that time you have to use your body and strength,” the 24-year-old Kunlavut told TOI in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the recently concluded India Open Super 750 here.As a three-time junior world champion (2017, 2018 and 2019), Kunlavut made the transition seamlessly to the seniors. He won gold at the 2023 World Championships in Copenhagen, as well as silver medals at the 2022 World Championships in Tokyo and the 2025 edition in Paris. At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris he went all the way to the final, where only Viktor Axelsen could stop him and settle for silver.The 2026 season started with a statement. Kunlavut won the Malaysia Open Super 1000, beating world number 1. 1 Shi Yuqi in the final after the Chinese shuttler retired with a right shoulder injury. Despite the accolades, Kunlavut said he doesn’t play with numbers or rankings in his head.“When I play, I don’t think much about rankings. My first priority is to win, and then it is to learn as much as I can to add to my game. To win medals at important tournaments like the Olympics and World Championships, you have to think big and keep learning and improving your game.” If I take on the pressure and think I’m number 2 in the world, then I won’t perform at the peak of my ability.”An important influence in his evolution was his idol, the Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei. Kunlavut admires Chong Wei’s speed, attacking instincts and defensive excellence – a combination he tries to integrate into his own game. He often seeks advice from the former world number 1, who has encouraged him to be more aggressive.“My counter strategy was to increase the pressure on the opponent and not on myself. I increase the tempo of the game and attack more. But every match is different and the strategies change accordingly,” Kunlavut said.Outside of badminton, Kunlavut finds inspiration in football, as a dedicated Liverpool fan. He owns a signed Steven Gerrard shirt and admires both the leadership of the former Reds captain and the edge of Spanish striker Fernando Torres.
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