Top Seed Akane Yamaguchi
To Face Off Against Tokyo Olympic Medalists

Akane YAMAGUCHI (Japan)

Of the five events at the 2022 BWF World Championships, Japan’s best shot at a gold medal will be in women’s singles. Akane YAMAGUCHI—who won her first World Championship title last December—is the only No. 1 seed in the Japanese delegation. Her record this year, which includes a win at the prestigious All England Open in March, puts her in a good position to defend her title.

“I am the only person in the tournament with a shot at winning the title for the second year in a row,” said Yamaguchi at a press conference on August 6. “I hope it will be a fun tournament.”

Yamaguchi also enjoys an important advantage—her positive history with the venue. The 10,000-seat Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium also hosted the 2013 Japan Open, where she became the youngest-ever player to win an event in the Super Series (the predecessor to the World Tour) at just 16 years and 3 months old.

“The shuttlecock seems to move slower in the [large] Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium,” says Yamaguchi. “So I can take my time during each rally over the course of the match.” She is determined to capture the top spot once again by showing off her versatile serves and hits.

Challenges from the Tokyo Olympic Medalists

CHEN Yu Fei (China)

Yamaguchi’s biggest challengers will be the medalists from last year’s Tokyo Olympics. Despite the various playing styles of the three shuttlers—gold medalist CHEN Yu Fei of China, silver medalist TAI Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, and bronze medalist PUSARLA V. Sindhu of India—all have proven that they have what it takes to win.

Sindhu, one of the best offensive players in women’s singles, will be looking to take advantage of her 179 cm frame by hitting a series of angled smashes in hopes of repeating her 2019 World Championship victory. If all goes well for her, she is likely to face Yamaguchi in the semifinals. However, her first major challenge will come in the third round from 22-year-old WANG Zhi Yi of China, who has been on the rise in recent months.

The other semifinal match is likely to be fought between Chen and Tai, who also played each other in the Tokyo Olympics final. Chen—who came out on top in that matchup—can rely on her speed to cover every inch of the court, while Tai—the 2021 runner-up—will want to use her skillful racket work to stop Chen in her tracks.

Will 20-Year-Old An Se Young Leave Her Mark?

Nozomi OKUHARA (Japan)

An up-and-coming young shuttler may be the one to shake up the plans of Yamaguchi and the Olympic medalists. Even the most seasoned athletes dread facing AN Se Young, a 20-year-old rising star from Korea. Her ability to hit precise, effective cuts has helped her win five major World Tour tournaments since the Tokyo Olympics. An hopes to use her status as a challenger to best some of the top players in the world.

Meanwhile, there is still one pre-2018 champion who cannot be written off. Carolina MARIN of Spain, the Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist and a three-time world champion, is looking for yet another gold. She tore her left ACL in June 2021, which caused her to miss the Tokyo Olympics, but she made a successful comeback this spring. If she makes it through the third round, where she is likely to face HE Bing Jiao of China—who won all six of her matches at the Uber Cup (the World Women’s Team Championships) in June—Marín could ride the wave of success all the way to the top of the podium.

Nozomi OKUHARA of Japan, the 2017 World Champion who is known for her unrivaled fortitude, is likely to take on Tai Tzu Ying in the quarterfinals, while Ratchanok INTANON of Thailand, whose 2013 World Championship win at 18 years old made her the youngest singles player to hold that title, is poised to face off against Chen Yu Fei. Okuhara sat out the 2021 tournament because her right ankle had not yet fully healed after undergoing surgery last October. However, she is optimistic about this year’s tournament, saying she is confident in her ability to out-compete her opponents in rallies.

The other Japanese players aiming to advance up the bracket are Sayaka TAKAHASHI, a shuttler with years of experience, and 25-year-old Aya OHORI. If they can trip up their opponents with their sharp left-handed smashes, both Takahashi and Ohori will be in a good position to take home a medal.