Gilmour Shows Her Class Despite Defeat to Rising Star Miyazaki

17th July 2025 by Robert McLean

It was a challenging opening round for Kirsty Gilmour at the Japan Open, as she faced off against Japan’s own Tomoka Miyazaki – the in-form world number 6 and one of the brightest young stars on the BWF World Tour. Despite the tough draw, Gilmour delivered a performance full of grit and quality, ultimately falling 21-15, 21-18 in a tightly contested match.

The first game saw Miyazaki start strongly, using her speed around the court and sharp attacking play to control the tempo. Gilmour, however, responded with trademark resilience and intelligent shot-making, refusing to let the home favourite settle into any rhythm.

In the second game, Gilmour raised her level significantly, going toe-to-toe with the teenage sensation in some extended rallies that had the Tokyo crowd on edge. At one point, the Scot pulled level at 16-16, showing excellent tactical variation and court coverage. But Miyazaki found another gear in the closing stages, edging ahead to seal the match in straight games.

While the result may not have gone her way, Gilmour can take plenty of positives from her performance against one of the sport’s top contenders. Her ability to push a top-10 player in front of a home crowd is a clear sign that she’s playing with confidence and composure heading into a packed schedule.

There’s little time to dwell, as Gilmour now turns her attention to the prestigious Victor China Open in Changzhou – one of the key events on the HSBC BWF World Tour calendar. With the tournament beginning on 22nd July, she’ll be looking to carry the momentum and sharpness from Tokyo into another high-stakes environment.

Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for an in-depth preview of the Victor China Open, as Kirsty continues her international campaign.