Tomoka Miyazaki advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games women’s singles badminton tournament, defeating Mongolia’s Sarangua Kelenbatar 2-0 (21-5, 21-5) in just 19 minutes at the Ichinomiya City Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. However, the Japanese singles player faces a formidable gauntlet in the subsequent rounds, including a clash with India’s Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, alongside potential matchups with China’s Chen Yufei and South Korea’s An Se-young.
Dominant Opening Win in Ichinomiya
The 20-year-old Japanese singles competitor, ranked No. 7 in the world, made quick work of Kelenbatar in the 32nd-round fixture on Feb. 26. Miyazaki seized control immediately by winning the first six points of the opening game. After yielding three consecutive points, she regained momentum and closed out the first frame 21-5 in nine minutes.
The second game followed a similar script. Despite dropping the opening point, Miyazaki rattled off nine straight points to establish a commanding lead. She secured the match in eight minutes, sealing the second game 21-5 to punch her ticket to the next phase.
A Mountainous Obstacle Course Ahead
Miyazaki’s path through the tournament grows exponentially harder in the round of 16, where she faces India’s premier badminton star, Pusarla Venkata Sindhu. Sindhu, born in 1995 and ranked No. 11 globally, reached the round by defeating Taiwan’s Chiu Pin Chien. Standing at 1.77 meters tall, Sindhu uses her height to deliver powerful attacks. She captured a historic silver medal for India at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
While Miyazaki holds a higher world ranking, she trails 1-2 in head-to-head encounters against Sindhu. After winning their initial meeting in 2024, Miyazaki dropped matches in both 2025 and 2026. Sindhu also maintains a 16-15 career record against Japan’s top-ranked Akane Yamaguchi, highlighting the scale of the challenge awaiting the young Japanese athlete.
Potential Showdowns with Chen Yufei and An Se-young
Should Miyazaki overcome Sindhu, the draw offers no relief. The quarterfinals loom with a prospective meeting against China’s Chen Yufei, currently ranked No. 4 in the world. Miyazaki carries unfinished business against Chen, having suffered a 0-2 defeat to the Chinese star in the women’s team final earlier in the event.
During that team final, Japan settled for a silver medal after losing the match score 0-3 to China. Miyazaki’s semifinal victory over South Korea’s Sim Yu-jin—who competed despite an ankle injury—featured an animated celebration, but the team ultimately fell short against the Chinese powerhouse. Visibly distraught after the team final loss, Miyazaki wept and stated that she felt she had failed to help her team.
If Miyazaki advances past the quarterfinals, a potential semifinal collision awaits against South Korea’s world No. 1, An Se-young. Historical records show Miyazaki has faced An eight times previously without securing a single victory. For now, however, the Japanese competitor must focus squarely on her upcoming battle against veteran star Sindhu before looking toward the heavier obstacles standing between her and the podium.
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