Source:Oriental Image/Jiang Xu
[Saba Sports News] The two most important events before this year’s World Badminton Championship – the 2025 Japan Open and the China Open – have concluded. However, Tomoka Miyazaki, the Japanese prodigy ranked 8th in the world, did not perform as expected. At the Japan Open, she was eliminated in the second round, losing 0-2 to Indonesian player Putri Kusuma Wardani. At the China Open, she was also eliminated in the first round, losing 1-2 to Pusarla Venkata Sindhu. Japanese media have raised doubts about Miyazaki’s development and are concerned about her chances of securing a medal in women’s singles at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. According to records, Miyazaki began playing badminton at the age of six due to her mother’s influence and quickly showed talent. She later entered the famous Shimonoseki Commercial High School in Yamaguchi Prefecture, where she won the World Junior Badminton Championships and was hailed as a “prodigy.” Starting this year, she joined the local corporate team ACT SAIKYO and became a member of the Japanese national team, with her world ranking rising into the top ten. Japanese fans hoped she would shine at the 2028 Olympics. Despite her popularity and strength, Miyazaki is currently facing a plateau, particularly in terms of mental changes after transitioning from a follower to a pursued competitor. This year, she only won one low-level title – the 2025 Taipei Open. From recent matches, when she encounters difficulties, she becomes impatient and makes more mistakes. She can no longer attack unexpectedly as before, her shot choices have become limited, and she is more easily predicted by opponents, leading to a cycle of consecutive errors due to impatience.