Channarong Ratanaseangsuang (born 1939), also known as Ratana, is a former badminton player and coach who represented both Thailand and Canada in international competition.
Career With a game marked by impressive mobility and consistency, during the 1960s he rated among the world's elite singles players. He reached the final of the prestigious All-England Championship in 1963, the semifinals in both 1964 and 1965, and won the open championships of Canada (1964, 1965) and the United States (1964, 1968).Herbert Scheele, TheInternational Badminton Federation Handbook for 1971 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J. A. Jennings Ltd., 1971) 136, 164, 312. Channarong played a leading role on the Thai Thomas Cup (men's international) teams of 1961 and 1964 that finished second and third in the world respectively.Herbert Scheele, The International badminton Federation Handbook for 1967 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J. A. Jennings Ltd.,1967) 79 - 87.
In the mid-1960s he moved from Thailand to North America, settling permanently in Canada after studying in the US. As a player-coach he represented Canada in three Thomas Cup campaigns (1970, 1973, 1976) and won both Canadian national and Canadian Open men's doubles titles with former Thai teammate Raphi Kanchanaraphi before retiring from high level competition.Badminton Canada – People in the Hall of Fame
Coaching As a coach, he led the Canadian National team from 1967 to 1973 and again from 1979 to 1986. Channarong also mentored the Canadian players during the BWF World Championships in 1980, 1983 and 1985; the Commonwealth Games of 1970, 1982 and 1986; the Uber Cup in 1981 and 1984; the Thomas Cup in 1970, 1976 and 1986; and the Olympic Games in 1996.
Achievements Southeast Asian Peninsular Games Men's singles YearVenueOpponentScoreResult1961Aung San Indoor National Stadium, Rangoon, Myanmar Smas Slayman15–1, 15–3 Gold
International tournaments Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result1963All England Erland Kops7–15, 7–15 Runner-up1963Canada Open Erland Kops 12–15, 12–15 Runner-up1964Canada Open Yoshio Komiya15–9, 15–1 Winner1964Mexico International Don Paup15–4, 15–8 Winner1964US Open Jim Poole17-14, 15-12 Winner1965Canada Open Jim Poole15–1, 15–2 Winner1967Mexico International Antonio Rangel15–8, 6–15, 15–12 Winner1968Canada Open Bruce Rollick15–2, 15–18, 14–17 Runner-up1968US Open Jim Poole15–11, 15–7 Winner1968Mexico International Jamie Paulson18–15, 15–4 Winner
Men's doubles Year TournamentPartner Opponent Score Result1963Canada Open Sangob Rattanusorn Erland Kops Robert McCoig13–15, 15–11, 13–15 Runner-up1964Mexico International Paisan Loaharanu Donald C. Paup Michael Hartgrove15–4, 15–8 Winner1965Canada Open Jim Poole Eiichi Sakai Takeshi Miyanaga15–10, 18–15 Winner1968Mexico International Jamie Paulson Jorge Palazuelos Francisco Sañudo15–5, 15–3 Winner1969US Open Ippei Kojima Punch Gunalan Ng Boon Bee3–15, 7–15 Runner-up1970Canada Open Raphi Kanchanaraphi Ippei Kojima Junji Honma15–10, 15–9 Winner1973Canada Open Raphi Kanchanaraphi Jamie Paulson Yves Paré 15–9, 10–15, 12–15 Runner-up1973Mexico International Raphi Kanchanaraphi Jamie Paulson Yves Paré18–15, 18–15 Winner
Mixed doubles Year TournamentPartner Opponent Score Result1964Mexico International Judy Adamos Paisan Loaharanu Ernestina Rivera15–12, 15–13 Winner1964US Open Margaret Barrand Joe Alston Lois Alstonwalkover Winner1968Canada Open Tyna Barinaga Sangob Rattanusorn Lois Alston11–15, 7–15 Runner-up1968Mexico International Lucero Peniche Stan Hales Josefina de Tinoco15–3, 15–5 Winner
Honours Due to his achievements in badminton, he has been inducted to the Sports Hall of Fame in Sweden, Thailand and the United States. He was presented with the Vanier Award for Outstanding Young Canadian in 1978, and received the Alberta 3M Coaching Award in 1997, the Government of Canada Certificate of Merit in 1987, and the International Badminton Federation Meritorious Service Award in 1988.
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