Yamaguchi races to Japan’s first Asia women’s title

Monday, 29 April 2019 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Akane Yamaguchi of Japan poses on the podium after winning the women’s singles final at the 2019 Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, 28 April – AFP

SHANGHAI, AFP: Akane Yamaguchi became the first Japanese to win the Badminton Asia Championships women’s title on Sunday with an emphatic victory over China’s He Bingjiao.

The third seed, a silver medallist two years ago, comfortably defeated fifth-seeded He 21-19, 21-9 in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The 21-year-old Yamaguchi, a former world number one, raced out of the blocks in both games against her stunned opponent, who is a year older.

Yamaguchi went 12-2 up in the first game and was ahead 11-1 in the second on the way to the title in just 42 one-sided minutes.