India Open: Busana Shocks Yamaguchi.

Busana Ongbamrungphan's Paris 2024 dreams got a big boost when she stunned Akane Yamaguchi at the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2024 on Thursday.

Ongbamrungphan took off and held his late nerves to win in straight games. He later explained how his plan to control the tempo paid off early.

"Akane is very good in her defensive game and is difficult to play every time," said Busanan. "He can hit every shot I hit. I was just trying to tell myself, 'Yeah, you can do it, one more shot, keep going.'

Busanan knows his shot at the Olympics is based on Thailand's two quotas. "We only have two tickets to the Olympics, so four or five of our players have to work hard to get those two tickets," he said. "I'm just trying to be the best version of myself and just keep competing, one game at a time."

While both Ongbamrungphan and Yamaguchi returned from long injury spells, the Japanese former world champion found himself still searching for optimal movement.

"Physically, I still have a lot to learn," Yamaguchi said. "I still have a long way to go with the speed of my movements and the accuracy of my shots."

The men's singles match also saw violent disturbances. Koki Watanabe outplayed and finally defeated world number 3 Li Shi Feng 21-14 13-21 21-9, his speed of movement was a deserved victory.

"Since Li is significantly taller, I started moving faster instead of chest-bumping him," he said. "He has a grip, so if I push, he can take it in one step. So I tried to put the shuttle in his body to make it difficult."

Lee Cheuk Yiu got his second big win of the week, eliminating defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarni.

"I lost some tough matches last year and it was more about improving myself to be stronger in close quarters," Lee said. - I kept telling myself that I'm not sad even when I lose, but I shouldn't be too happy about my victory, so I have to balance it internally.