Who is Tomoka Miyazaki? Profile, style, scouting report of Japan's latest badminton sensation

Published at :March 24, 2024 at 7:36 AM

Modified at :March 25, 2024 at 3:31 PM

(Courtesy : @mswsTracker/Twitter)

Tomoka Miyazaki fourth Japanese player to win the world junior singles title.

Over the past decade, Japan has consistently produced exceptional women’s singles badminton players. Nozomi Okuhara and Akane Yamaguchi have been trailblazers, and now Tomoka Miyazaki has emerged as a rising star. Miyazaki, who won the 2022 Junior World Championships, has quickly risen in the rankings and recently won the Orleans Masters 2024 Super 300 tournament.

Miyazaki’s ascent began with a clear objective—break into the top 32 of BWF rankings to qualify for premier tournaments. That goal was achieved early into 2024, and her trajectory has only soared since then. Currently holding the 27th spot, Miyazaki is on the cusp of entering the top 25, with expectations set high after her performance at the Swiss Open 2024, where she defeated former world champion PV Sindhu and Asian Games bronze medallist Aya Ohori.

Her impressive run to the finals at the Korea Masters last year marked her debut in a Super 300 tournament final.

Player Details

Tomoka Miyazaki, hailing from Osaka, Japan, began playing badminton in elementary school and swiftly gained recognition in domestic competitions. At 15, she won the domestic junior high school badminton championship. Upon entering high school, she contributed to her school team’s victory in the national high school badminton championships, achieving four consecutive titles with the potential for more.

In the 2024 season, she earned a spot in the Japan Team A. She also broke into the top 30 this year and is poised to enter the top 25 rankings, joining three other Japanese players.

Playing Style

Her court coverage echoes that of Akane Yamaguchi, her hand skills are comparable to Ratchanok Intanon, and she possesses many of Tai Tzu Ying’s deceptive shots. Additionally, she demonstrates strong perseverance and vision, playing intelligently with her shot selection. She can identify gaps and select shots wisely, exhibiting stable and consistent gameplay.

Best Ranking Achieved

Tomoka Miyazaki, the teenage sensation of world badminton, has reached a new career-high ranking of 27 in the women’s singles category. The 17-year-old prodigy has already won one Super 300 tournament, the Orleans Masters, earlier this year. Her achievements last year include reaching the final of her maiden Super 300 tournament, the Korea Masters.

As of March 21, 2023, she was ranked WR 438. Fast forward to March 19, 2024, she is now World No. 27. The Junior World No. 1 has climbed an impressive 411 spots, establishing herself as a rising star in the women’s singles category.

Can't stop. Won't stop! 🚀Tomoka Miyazaki (🇯🇵) is now the winner of BWF World Tour tournament! This achievement will award her a new status as World #27 next week. What a week for the Japan's rising star 🔥🔥#BWFRankingWatch #BadmintonEropa https://t.co/tUBqyDpkdi pic.twitter.com/uNoKSw2SB4
— Badminton Eropa (@badmintoneropa) March 17, 2024

Best Performance

The Japan No. 4 caused a sensational upset by defeating former World Champion PV Sindhu, currently WR-11, at the Swiss Open 2024 in the pre-quarterfinal clash with scores of 16-21, 21-19, 21-16. This marked her first-ever win against a top 15 player in the World Rankings.

She continued her impressive form by defeating her senior compatriot, Japan No. 2 and WR-12 Aya Ohori, in the quarterfinals with scores of 21-17, 18-21, 21-17, securing back-to-back victories over top 12 players.

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