Japan’s Okuhara proves she’s more than just a petite girl on court

STANDING at just 1.55m tall, Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara does not look like a typical badminton player.
But her height and cute looks are deceiving as Okuhara is one of the most promising women’s singles player to emerge from Japan.
She has the makings of a top player in future, based on her impressive track record.
In 2011, at the age of just 16, she captured her first senior title – the Austrian International Challenge – in only her fifth international tournament.
The same year, she became the youngest ever national champion, defeating a string of more experienced players before her opponent in the final Eriko Hirose withdrew due to acute gastroenteritis.
That feat prompted Japan’s head coach Park Joo-bong to rope her into the national team and since then Okuhara has gone from strength to strength.
She picked up a second title, the Canadian Open GP Gold last July, before notching her career best, so far, by winning the World Junior title, beating compatriot Akane Yamaguchi in the final.
Now ranked No. 33 in the world, the tiny Okuhara has little fear taking on the rest of the world, although she wants to play catch-up first.
“I was really happy with winning the World Juniors. That was definitely the best achievement in my career,” said Okuhara.
“But I’m not too satisfied with what I’ve achieved so far because there’s still a lot of catching up to do, against the likes of China’s Sun Yu and Thailand’s Busanan Ongbungrumpan.
“Then there’s Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying but she’s too far ahead at the moment. Thus this year, I’m aiming to win at least one more GP Gold title, while also trying to do well in Super Series events in order to push for a spot in the World Championship,” added Okuhara.
She has certainly done well enough in the ongoing Maybank Malaysian Open by reaching the quarter-finals, the first time she has ever progressed so far in a Super Series event.
However, the plucky lass came a cropper in the quarter-finals because of an injury. The pint-sized Okuhara who was forced to retire after suffering a knee injury against top seed Saina Nehwal of India. The score was 11-21, 21-14, 0-2 when the pain forced her to pull out.
Courtesy of The Star