She definitely deserves a thread right now. Does she? Name: Akane Yamaguchi D.O.B.: 6 June 1997 Age: 16 Place of birth: Fukui Prefecture, Japan School: Katsuyama Senior High School Favorite person: 上田健吾さん (Mr Ueda Kengo) (not sure is 健吾 named Kengo in romaji) Favorite food: Tamagoyaki
http://www.fukuishimbun.co.jp/localnews/sports/42489.html Read an interview with Akane with the local news online. These are some of the contents that I can understand: 1) Her daily training schedule: - Train for 2 hours after school everyday - Train for half day in the weekend. - Sparing partners during training are mostly OB(i.e male retires in Japanese). There are approximately 20 OB visit her club everyday. 2) First started Badminton: - At the age of 3 3) Target: - To become the podium finisher in the upcoming Inter-High competition (She had accomplished this target. The competition was held last month, she beat Ayako Sakuramoto in the final) - To beat all the OB in Katsuyama in 3 years time (i.e. all the OB sparring partners in Katsuyama)
I am not sure is there any mistake in my translation. If yes, Japanese friends, please help to correct. Haha...
Please do not get overly excited if she win or lose, let her develops at her own pace. We surely need another quality WS player.
A video of Akane when she was 11 years old. [video=youtube;4oevbR3X-oU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oevbR3X-oU[/video]
well hasn't she noe became the youngest player to win a super series title breaking Ratchanok's record?
I'm surprised that she has not beaten all the OBs (Old Boys?) since they must be pretty senior as retirees! Or she just fools around with them to make them happy. That way she is bound to receive a lot of treats from them! Smart strategy!
The Japanese women's singles lineup has become pretty impressive now... Uber cup is just waiting to be theirs' in a couple of years time if not the next.... Well done girls.... keep it up! Here's an article by Dev S Kumar from an Indian sports news website. http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/09/23/akane-yamaguchi-signals-generational-shift-womens-badminton/ Excerpts: It’s hard to think of another period in recent history as exciting as this one. The last two weeks have been exhilarating for women’s singles. The youngest-ever women’s singles winner of a Superseries was crowned on Sunday. Akane Yamaguchi, just 16, capped a dreamlike week to finish winner at her home Yonex Open Japan Superseries. In doing so, Yamaguchi became the first Japanese player to win the tournament in its 32-year history. A week earlier, we saw Porntip Buranapraserstuk, the not-so-accomplished 21-year-old, power her way into the final of the China Masters, fighting past Olympic champion Li Xuerui in the semi-finals. Yamaguchi and Porntip are two of a cast of characters changing the existing power structure of women’s singles. To Yamaguchi first. School kids fantasise about winning tournaments on home soil, in front of adoring home fans, and that is exactly what Yamaguchi did on Sunday. Her campaign was indistinguishable from a schoolgirl’s fantasy. Ranked 145, and chiefly with accomplishments in junior badminton to her credit, Yamaguchi started off by winning her two qualifying round matches to enter the main draw. Once there, she took on fellow-Japanese qualifier Ayumi Mine, whom she quelled in three games. Next up was eighth seed PV Sindhu, but Yamaguchi destroyed the World Championships bronze medallist in the first game – allowing her opponent to score just six points – before wrapping up the tie 21-17 in the second.
WC bronze medalist destroyed in Japnan Open Dev is rather naughty in describing ... "but Yamaguchi destroyed the WC bronze medalist in the first game ..." Indeed it was shocking that the teenage Yamaguchi did not give too much respect to her illustrious opponent, the toast of Indian badminton.
Hmm, i think the title should accredit her historic achievement as a recognisable WS player, hence, Akane Yamaguchi; - youngest SS title holder to date or - 1st Japanese to win JO SS Truly deserved her own thread..
An introduction to Akana Yamaguchi [video=youtube;ykHF_wP2k_g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykHF_wP2k_g&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]
Akane Yamaguchi back to school [video=youtube;wUJuyRUIlXk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUJuyRUIlXk&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]
well, from the bwf records, it shows that Akena has participated in 3 tournaments so far, Japan IC NZL GP Japan SS and she reached the finals of all 3 competition. thats certainly is very very impressive. The thing i am concern is her upcoming matches, since she just started and won an SS. Hopefully people wont expect, or she wont expect herself to be winning every SS tournament after this. From what i read, her next game is China SSP. i actually think that for her status, she should try to rack up more points now, participate in more tournaments so that she wont have to play qualifying, and can get a better draw if she is seeded. With so many GPG in current months (all the way till year end), it would be good if she can go for these tournaments, especially due to the schedules, many of these tournaments dont have too many strong players. Last thing to hope is of course, that people do not over estimate her. Or else it might be the case of Daren Liew.
