Badminton star Ratchanok Intanon dedicated her Denmark Open win to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej who, she said, was her inspiration in her come-from-behind triumph in the final on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Thai rallied to beat defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 14-21, 21-15, 21-19 to claim her first Superseries title in 18 months.
"I give this win to King Rama IX [King Bhumibol]. When I am in a bad situation, I will think of the 'royal father'. He worked so hard for all Thais and inspired me to make a comeback to win the title," Ratchanok, who is nicknamed May, said after the final in Odense.
She also said in an Instagram post that she did it for "father".
"The only thing I want to say [is] 'I love you father.' You always stayed humble, lived a simple life," she wrote.
"You worked for 70,000,000 [Thai] people [for them] to live well ... today I did it for you.
"Sorry, today I was emotional a lot after winning because I want to give this [title] to our country to make them proud of me as well."
After beating Yamaguchi at Odense Sports Park, the world No.9 Thai prostrated herself and paid respects to King Bhumibol, whose body will be cremated in a royal ceremony on Thursday.
Earlier, she said after her brilliant semi-final win over world No.1 Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan that she felt the late King was watching her from above during the match.
"I am an athlete of the king," she said.
Before her latest success, few thought Ratchanok, the 2013 world champion, would go all the way in Denmark although she had won two Grand Prix Gold tournaments this year at the Thailand Open and New Zealand Open.
Last year, Ratchanok's compatriot Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk defied all the odds to win his first Superseries Premier title in the same event.
His win came just days after the passing away of King Bhumibol on Oct 13, 2016 -- the day Tanongsak turned 26.
Earlier on Sunday, Kunlavut Vitidsarn became the first Thai male shuttler to win the world junior title.
Both Ratchanok and Kunlavut are products of Banthongyod badminton school.
"King Rama IX was an inspiration for all Thai badminton players," Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, said yesterday.
"We at the BAT feel grateful to him."
The monarch played badminton when he was young and was patron of the BAT.
Patama said the whole Thailand was impressed when a prostrating Ratchanok paid respects to the late King after her win.
"I was watching the match on TV and felt so emotional when Ratchanok paid her respects to the late King," said Patama.
"It's a beautiful gesture physically and emotionally."
Right after the win, Patama said, she received messages from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn and Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, who all congratulated Ratchanok.
Ratchanok will next play at this week's French Open and is scheduled to return to Thailand on Sunday.
