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

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.