NEW DELHI: Top-seeded Indian shuttler Tanya Hemanth rounded off an impressive campaign at the Saipan International 2025 by defeating Japan’s Kanae Sakai in straight games in the women’s singles final on Saturday.
The 21-year-old, ranked 86th in the world, secured a 15-10, 15-8 victory over the unseeded Sakai at the Oleai Sports Complex in the Northern Mariana Islands, claiming her fourth international series title.
The Saipan International forms part of the Badminton World Federation’s trial events for the experimental 3×15 scoring system, where each game is played to 15 points instead of the traditional 21.
Hemanth, who previously won the India International (2022), Iran Fajr International (2023), and Bendigo International (2024), added another accolade to her growing list of achievements. She had also finished runner-up at the Azerbaijan International last year, falling to compatriot Malvika Bansod in the final.
On her path to the Saipan title, Hemanth defeated Japan’s Ririna Hiramoto in the semi-finals, Singapore’s Lee Xin Yi Megan in the quarter-finals, and Japanese player Nodoka Sunakawa in the round of 16, after receiving a bye in the opening round.
