Speed Post News Network
Patna : World No 1 in BWF rankings and top seed Akane Yamaguchi, 22, Japan, and World No 3 Nozumi Okuhara, 24, Japan, suffered shock first round defeat at Victor China Open, an HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1,000 tournament, at Changzhou, China, on September 17, 2019.
Reigning Olympic and three-time former World Champion Champion Carolina Marin, 26, Spain, upset World No 3 and 2017 World Champion Nozumi Okuhara, 24, Japan, in straight games to enter the 2nd round of Victor China Open, at Changzhou, China, on September 17, 2019.
Marin, who is coming back after an injury lay off for several weeks due to which her Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings has slipped to 26, beat 4th seed Okuhara 21-16, 21-18 in 46 minutes in 1st round at Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Changzhou, China.
Marin, who had lost in the first round of Vietnam Open in her first comeback match on September 11, 2019, won 42 rallies in the match to 34 by Okuhara. She won 4 consecutive points to 5 Okuhara. The Spaniard now leads Okuhara 7-6 Head to Head. Marin had won World Championships title in 2014, 2015, and 2018.
World No 33 Yvgeniya Kosetskaya, 24, Russia, stunned World No 1 Akane Yamaguchi in a three-game thriller 20-22, 21-17, 24-22 in 46 minutes in first round coming from behind. Kosetskaya won 65 rallies in the match to 61 by Yamaguchi. The Russian won 6 consecutive points to 4 by Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi, however, still leads the Russian 2-1 Head to Head.
World No 10 Sung Ji Hyun, 28, South Korea, beat World No 18 Cai Yan Yan, 19, China, in straigjt games 21-11, 22-20 in 38 minutes to enter the 2nd round. Sung won 43 rallies in the match to 31 by Cai Yan Yan. Sung won 6 consecutive points in the match to 5 by the Chinese. Sung now leads Cai Yan Yan 2-1 Head to Head.