Tomoka Miyazaki's projected path to Badminton Asia Championships 2025 final

The Japanese shuttler is currently ranked seventh in the World.

The Badminton Asia Championships 2025 promises to be an intense battle, with the best shuttlers from across the continent vying for the prestigious title. Japan’s rising star, Tomoka Miyazaki, has been in red-hot form recently and is considered a strong contender.

With Paris Olympic Champion An Se Young withdrawing, the tournament’s dynamics have shifted, making it an unpredictable event. Miyazaki enters as a dark horse, and though she is not the outright favourite, her performances in recent months suggest she is capable of making a deep run. Her road to the final is far from easy, with formidable opponents at every stage. Here’s a detailed breakdown of her projected path:

Tomoka Miyazaki’s projected path to Badminton Asia Championships 2025 final

Round 1: Busanan Ongbamrungphan

Tomoka Miyazaki will open her campaign against Busanan Ongbamrungphan, the experienced Thai shuttler. Busanan has an impressive resume, having won the Canada Open 2024 and finishing as the Japan Open Super 750 finalist. She was also the 2022 India Open champion and managed to qualify for the BWF World Tour Finals in 2024.

Given her past performances, this will not be an easy match for Miyazaki. However, Tomoka’s recent form appears superior to Busanan’s, and if she maintains her consistency, she should secure a victory and move to the next round.

Also Read: Top five title favourites in women’s singles at Badminton Asia Championships 2025

Round 2: Fang Jia Gao or Malvika Bansod

Miyazaki will face a tricky challenge in the second round, where she could be up against either Fang Jia Gao or Malvika Bansod.

Malvika Bansod has seen a tremendous improvement over the past year. While she wasn’t considered a major threat earlier, she has recently claimed victories against top players such as Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour. She also reached the Hylo Open final.

Fang Jia Gao, on the other hand, is an emerging Chinese powerhouse. She won the 2024 Macau Open and was previously the 2022 Indonesia Masters champion. Regardless of who advances, Miyazaki is expected to be the favourite, though she cannot afford any slip-ups.

Quarter-final: Gregoria Mariska Tunjung

A major hurdle awaits Miyazaki in the quarterfinals, as she is likely to face Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, the Paris Olympics bronze medalist. The Indonesian shuttler has been a consistent performer and is one of the title favourites. She has previously won the Japan Masters and Spain Masters 2023.

Miyazaki’s last encounter with Tunjung ended in a straight-game defeat at the Japan Masters 2024. To turn the tables this time, Miyazaki will need to be at her absolute best.

Also Read: PV Sindhu’s projected path to Badminton Asia Championships 2025 final

Semi-final: Han Yue (Likely Opponent)

From the bottom half of the draw, the No. #2 seed Han Yue is the projected semi-final opponent. Han is a well-established Chinese shuttler with several accolades to her name:

• 2024 Hong Kong Open winner
• BWF World Tour Finals runner-up
• Two-time Arctic Open champion
• Bronze medalist at the 2024 Badminton Asia Championships

Miyazaki previously lost to Han in straight sets at the Japan Open 2024, indicating that she has a tough challenge ahead. To reach the final, she must overcome the challenges posed by the Chinese shuttler.

Also Read: Who is Tomoka Miyazaki? Profile, style, scouting report of Japan’s latest badminton sensation

Final: Wang Zhi Yi/Chen Yufei/Akane Yamaguchi

If Miyazaki makes it to the final, her opponent will likely be one of the tournament’s top seeds:

• Wang Zhi Yi (Top seed) – An in-form strong all-round player with an established titles resume.
• Chen Yufei – The Swiss Open champion, which happened recently, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion.
• Akane Yamaguchi – If she advances, Yamaguchi will be a massive challenge, having dominated world circuit in recent years.

As an emerging star, Miyazaki has the potential to upset higher-ranked players and make a statement in the tournament. Fans will be eager to see if she can navigate this challenging draw and claim one of the biggest titles of her career.

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