India's young badminton player Tanvi Sharma suffered a Round of 16 exit at the Korea Open 2026 after losing to Japan's Hina Akechi in straight games on Thursday. The 17-year-old Indian went down 18-21, 12-21 in a 37-minute contest, as Akechi advanced to the quarterfinals and extended her head-to-head advantage over Sharma to 3-1.
The fourth encounter between the two players began on an evenly matched note, with Sharma taking an early lead before Akechi fought back. Both shuttlers displayed strong attacking play and exchanged points throughout the opening stages. However, Akechi gained the upper hand towards the first game's interval, producing a sharp down-the-line winner while Sharma sent a lift beyond the baseline to take an 11-9 lead.
HS Prannoy Provided Guidance To Tanvi Sharma From Sidelines
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the interval, Sharma showed resilience and brought the score level at 11-11. With both players fighting hard for control, the contest remained closely fought. India's H. S. Prannoy, who had suffered a first-round exit on Wednesday, was also seen guiding the young Indian during the match.
However, Akechi shifted gears when the score stood at 17-17, winning three consecutive points to earn three game points. Although Sharma saved one, an unforced error saw her hit the shuttle wide, allowing the Japanese player to take the opening game 21-18 in 20 minutes.
The second game followed a similar pattern initially, with Akechi once again establishing an 11-9 advantage at the interval. The Japanese shuttler then increased the pressure and quickly opened up a six-point lead at 16-10.
Sharma struggled to find a way back as Akechi maintained her dominance in the closing stages. The World No. 16 eventually earned nine match points and converted her second opportunity to seal a convincing 21-18, 21-12 victory.
Earlier in the tournament, Sharma had produced an impressive performance in the opening round, defeating Japan's Manami Suizu in a hard-fought three-game encounter. Despite that encouraging start, the Indian teenager could not overcome Akechi in the pre-quarterfinals.
The defeat brings Sharma's Korea Open campaign to an end, while Akechi moves into the last eight with a significant boost in confidence.
