# Channarong Ratanaseangsuang

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). 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.
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.

## 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
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1961 | Aung San Indoor National Stadium, Rangoon, Myanmar | Smas Slayman | 15–1, 15–3 | Gold |

### International tournaments

Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1963 | All England | Erland Kops | 7–15, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1963 | Canada Open | Erland Kops | 12–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1964 | Canada Open | Yoshio Komiya | 15–9, 15–1 | Winner |
| 1964 | Mexico International | Don Paup | | Winner |
| 1964 | US Open | Jim Poole | 17-14, 15-12 | Winner |
| 1965 | Canada Open | Jim Poole | 15–1, 15–2 | Winner |
| 1967 | Mexico International | | | Winner |
| 1968 | Canada Open | Bruce Rollick | 15–2, 15–18, 14–17 | Runner-up |
| 1968 | US Open | Jim Poole | 15-11, 15-7 | Winner |
| 1968 | Mexico International | Jamie Paulson | | Winner |
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1963 | Canada Open | Sangob Rattanusorn | Erland Kops Robert McCoig | 13–15, 15–11, 13–15 | Runner-up |
| 1964 | Mexico International | Paisan Loaharanu | | | Winner |
| 1965 | Canada Open | Jim Poole | Eiichi Sakai Takeshi Miyanaga | 15–10, 18–15 | Winner |
| 1968 | Mexico International | Jamie Paulson | | | Winner |
| 1969 | US Open | Ippei Kojima | Punch Gunalan Ng Boon Bee | 3–15, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1970 | Canada Open | Raphi Kanchanaraphi | Ippei Kojima Junji Honma | 15–10, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1973 | Canada Open | Raphi Kanchanaraphi | Jamie Paulson Yves Paré | 15-9, 15-10, 15-12 | Runner-up |
| 1973 | Mexico International | Raphi Kanchanaraphi | Jamie Paulson Yves Paré | 18–15, 18–15 | Winner |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1964 | Mexico International | Judy Adamos | | | Winner |
| 1964 | US Open | Margaret Barrand | Joe Alston Lois Alston | Walkover | Winner |
| 1968 | Canada Open | Tyna Barinaga | Sangob Rattanusorn Lois Alston | 11–15, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1968 | Mexico International | Lucero Peniche | | | 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.