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Ayaka Takahashi

Summary

Ayaka Takahashi (高橋 礼華, Takahashi Ayaka, born 19 April 1990) is a retired Japanese badminton player who was affiliated with Unisys badminton team. She is an Olympic Games gold medalist, two-time Asian Champion, two-time Asian Games silver medalist, and World Championship bronze medalist.[2]

Ayaka Takahashi
Takahashi at the 2013 French Super Series
Personal information
CountryJapan
Born (1990-04-19) 19 April 1990 (age 34)
Kashihara, Nara, Japan
Height1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Retired31 August 2020[1]
HandednessRight
Women's doubles
Highest ranking1 (with Misaki Matsutomo 20 October 2014)
Medal record
Women's badminton
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Women's doubles
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Glasgow Women's doubles
Sudirman Cup
Silver medal – second place 2015 Donggguan Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2019 Nanning Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Gold Coast Mixed team
Uber Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 Bangkok Women's team
Silver medal – second place 2014 New Delhi Women's team
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Wuhan Women's team
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Kunshan Women's team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Jakarta–Palembang Women's team
Silver medal – second place 2014 Incheon Women's doubles
Silver medal – second place 2018 Jakarta–Palembang Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Incheon Women's team
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Wuhan Women's doubles
Gold medal – first place 2017 Wuhan Women's doubles
Silver medal – second place 2018 Wuhan Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Wuhan Women's doubles
Asia Mixed Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Ho Chi Minh Mixed team
Asia Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Alor Setar Women's team
Silver medal – second place 2016 Hyderabad Women's team
BWF profile

Playing for the Unisys team with her regular partner Misaki Matsutomo in the women's doubles, she won five National Championships titles.[3] In the international event, Takahashi and Matsutomo were ranked world number ones in October 2014.[4] They won numerous international titles, including the year-end tournament finals in 2014 and 2018; the historical All England Open in 2016; the Olympic Games in 2016; and also the Asian Championships in 2016 and 2017.[2][5] The duo won the Badminton World Federation's Female Player of the Year award in 2016.[6]

Takahashi was also a member of the victorious Japanese team at the 2017 Asia Mixed Team Championships and of the victorious women's team at the 2018 Asia Team Championships, 2018 Asian Games, and the 2018 Uber Cup.[5][7]

Career edit

In 2016, Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo won the women's doubles gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, became the first ever Japan's to win an Olympic badminton gold medal.[8] She and her women's doubles partner Matsutomo also honored with the Female Player of the Year award.[6] They are playing together for more than ten years, ever since they were schoolmates. Takahashi and Matsutomo became the first pair from outside China to win the women's Olympic doubles title since the 1996 Atlanta Games, giving Japan its second medal in the event after Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa took silver at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Takahashi announced her retirement in an online conference on 19 August 2020, and officially left the national and Unisys team at the end of August.[1][9]

Personal life edit

Takahashi is the older sister of Sayaka Takahashi, a singles badminton player. In 2020, Ayaka announced that she had married Yuki Kaneko, a teammate in both the Japanese national and Unisys teams. Kaneko is also Matsutomo's mixed doubles partner.[10]

Achievements edit

Olympic Games edit

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2016 Riocentro - Pavilion 4, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil   Misaki Matsutomo   Christinna Pedersen
  Kamilla Rytter Juhl 		18–21, 21–9, 21–19   Gold

BWF World Championships edit

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2017 Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland   Misaki Matsutomo   Chen Qingchen
  Jia Yifan 		17–21, 15–21   Bronze

Asian Games edit

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2014 Gyeyang Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea   Misaki Matsutomo   Nitya Krishinda Maheswari
  Greysia Polii 		15–21, 9–21   Silver
2018 Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia   Misaki Matsutomo   Chen Qingchen
  Jia Yifan 		20–22, 20–22   Silver

Asian Championships edit

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2015 Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China   Misaki Matsutomo   Wang Xiaoli
  Yu Yang 		18–21, 21–18, 15–21   Bronze
2016 Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China   Misaki Matsutomo   Naoko Fukuman
  Kurumi Yonao 		21–13, 21–15   Gold
2017 Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China   Misaki Matsutomo   Kim Hye-rin
  Yoo Hae-won 		21–19, 16–21, 21–10   Gold
2018 Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China   Misaki Matsutomo   Yuki Fukushima
  Sayaka Hirota 		18–21, 21–18, 15–21   Silver

BWF World Tour (6 titles, 6 runners-up) edit

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[11] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.[12]

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Level Partner Opponent Score Result
2018 Indonesia Masters Super 500   Misaki Matsutomo   Greysia Polii
  Apriyani Rahayu 		21–17, 21–12   Winner
2018 Malaysia Open Super 750   Misaki Matsutomo   Chen Qingchen
  Jia Yifan 		21–12, 21–12   Winner
2018 Thailand Open Super 500   Misaki Matsutomo   Greysia Polii
  Apriyani Rahayu 		13–21, 10–21   Runner-up
2018 China Open Super 1000   Misaki Matsutomo   Mayu Matsumoto
  Wakana Nagahara 		21–16, 21–12   Winner
2018 Korea Open Super 500   Misaki Matsutomo   Yuki Fukushima
  Sayaka Hirota 		21–11, 21–18   Winner
2018 BWF World Tour Finals World Tour Finals   Misaki Matsutomo   Lee So-hee
  Shin Seung-chan 		21–12, 22–20   Winner
2019 Indonesia Masters Super 500   Misaki Matsutomo   Kim So-yeong
  Kong Hee-yong 		21–19, 21–15   Winner
2019 German Open Super 300   Misaki Matsutomo   Du Yue
  Li Yinhui 		20–22, 15–21   Runner-up
2019 New Zealand Open Super 300   Misaki Matsutomo   Kim So-yeong
  Kong Hee-yong 		15–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2019 Indonesia Open Super 1000   Misaki Matsutomo   Yuki Fukushima
  Sayaka Hirota 		16–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2019 China Open Super 1000   Misaki Matsutomo   Chen Qingchen
  Jia Yifan 		14–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2019 Korea Masters Super 300   Misaki Matsutomo   Nami Matsuyama
  Chiharu Shida 		21–15, 17–21, 18–21   Runner-up

BWF Superseries (9 titles, 13 runners-up) edit

The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[13] was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels were Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consisted of twelve tournaments around the world that had been introduced since 2011.[14] Successful players were invited to the Superseries Finals, which were held at the end of each year.

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2012 Denmark Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Ma Jin
  Tang Jinhua 		8–21, 12–21   Runner-up
2013 Malaysia Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Bao Yixin
  Tian Qing 		16–21, 14–21   Runner-up
2013 Singapore Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Tian Qing
  Zhao Yunlei 		19–21, 16–21   Runner-up
2014 Malaysia Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Bao Yixin
  Tang Jinhua 		19–21, 21–14, 13–21   Runner-up
2014 Japan Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Reika Kakiiwa
  Miyuki Maeda 		21–13, 21–17   Winner
2014 Australian Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Tian Qing
  Zhao Yunlei 		15–21, 9–21   Runner-up
2014 Denmark Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Wang Xiaoli
  Yu Yang 		14–21, 14–21   Runner-up
2014 Hong Kong Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Tian Qing
  Zhao Yunlei 		13–21, 13–21   Runner-up
2014 Dubai World Superseries Finals   Misaki Matsutomo   Tian Qing
  Zhao Yunlei 		21–17, 21–14   Winner
2015 India Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Luo Ying
  Luo Yu 		21–19, 21–19   Winner
2015 Singapore Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Ou Dongni
  Yu Xiaohan 		17–21, 16–21   Runner-up
2015 China Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Tang Yuanting
  Yu Yang 		21–18, 13–21, 12–21   Runner-up
2016 All England Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Tang Yuanting
  Yu Yang 		21–10, 21–12   Winner
2016 India Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Naoko Fukuman
  Kurumi Yonao 		21–18, 21–18   Winner
2016 Singapore Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Nitya Krishinda Maheswari
  Greysia Polii 		Walkover   Runner-up
2016 Indonesia Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Tang Yuanting
  Yu Yang 		21–15, 8–21, 21–15   Winner
2016 Japan Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Christinna Pedersen
  Kamilla Rytter Juhl 		21–19, 18–21, 12–21   Runner-up
2016 Denmark Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Jung Kyung-eun
  Shin Seung-chan 		19–21, 21–11, 21–16   Winner
2016 Dubai World Superseries Finals   Misaki Matsutomo   Chen Qingchen
  Jia Yifan 		15–21, 21–13, 17–21   Runner-up
2017 Singapore Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Christinna Pedersen
  Kamilla Rytter Juhl 		18–21, 21–14, 15–21   Runner-up
2017 Australian Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Christinna Pedersen
  Kamilla Rytter Juhl 		21–10, 21–13   Winner
2017 Japan Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Kim Ha-na
  Kong Hee-yong 		21–18, 21–16   Winner
  BWF Superseries Finals tournament
  BWF Superseries Premier tournament
  BWF Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix (7 titles, 1 runner-up) edit

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2009 India Grand Prix   Misaki Matsutomo   Nadya Melati
  Devi Tika Permatasari 		21–14, 15–21, 21–15   Winner
2011 Russian Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Valeri Sorokina
  Nina Vislova 		20–22, 18–21   Runner-up
2012 U.S. Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Valeri Sorokina
  Nina Vislova 		21–19, 21–17   Winner
2012 Canada Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Yuriko Miki
  Koharu Yonemoto 		21–15, 15–21, 21–12   Winner
2012 Indonesia Grand Prix Gold   Misaki Matsutomo   Eom Hye-won
  Jang Ye-na 		21–12, 12–21, 21–13   Winner
2014 German Open   Misaki Matsutomo   Jung Kyung-eun
  Kim Ha-na 		23–21, 24–22   Winner
2016 Malaysia Masters   Misaki Matsutomo   Tang Yuanting
  Yu Yang 		21–18, 22–20   Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2012 Canada Open   Ryota Taohata   Takeshi Kamura
  Koharu Yonemoto 		21–14, 21–16   Winner
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series (5 titles, 2 runners-up) edit

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2008 Waikato International   Sayaka Sato 21–11, 17–21, 28–26   Winner

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2008 Smiling Fish International   Koharu Yonemoto   Megumi Taruno
  Oku Yukina 		15–21, 20–22   Runner-up
2008 Waikato International   Koharu Yonemoto   Renee Flavell
  Rachel Hindley 		21–18, 21–19   Winner
2008 North Shore City International   Koharu Yonemoto   Renee Flavell
  Rachel Hindley 		21–9, 21–15   Winner
2009 Osaka International   Misaki Matsutomo   Kaori Mori
  Aya Wakisaka 		21–16, 16–21, 24–22   Winner
2009 Belgian International   Misaki Matsutomo   Emma Mason
  Samantha Ward 		21–8, 18–21, 21–13   Winner
2010 Osaka International   Misaki Matsutomo   Mizuki Fujii
  Reika Kakiiwa 		19–21, 16–21   Runner-up
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament

Performance timeline edit

National team edit

  • Senior level
Team events 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Asia Team Championships —   Silver —   Gold — A
Asia Mixed Team Championships —   Gold — A —
Asian Games —   Bronze —   Gold —
Uber Cup   Bronze —   Silver —   Bronze —   Gold —
Sudirman Cup — QF —   Silver —   Bronze —   Silver —

Individual competitions edit

  • Senior level
Events 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Asian Championships R1 A R1 A   Bronze   Gold   Gold   Silver R1
Asian Games —   Silver —   Silver —
World Championships R3 — R2 R3 R3 —   Bronze R3 QF
Olympic Games — A —   Gold —
Tournament 2018 2019 2020 Best
BWF World Tour
  Malaysia Masters QF SF QF W (2016)
  Indonesia Masters W W SF W (2012, 2018, 2019)
  German Open w/d F — W (2014)
  All England Open QF R1 SF W (2016)
  Singapore Open A R2 Ret F (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  Australian Open A SF W (2017)
  Korea Open W QF W (2018)
  China Open W F W (2018)
  Japan Open R2 SF W (2014, 2017)
  Denmark Open R2 R1 W (2016)
  French Open QF R2 SF (2016)
  New Zealand Open A F F (2019)
  Fuzhou China Open SF R2 SF (2018)
  Hong Kong Open QF QF F (2017)
  Indonesia Open SF F W (2016)
  Syed Modi International R1 A W (2009)
  Malaysia Open W R2 W (2018)
  Korea Masters A F F (2019)
  India Open A W (2015, 2016)
  Thailand Open F QF F (2018)
BWF World Tour Finals W DNQ W (2014, 2018)
Year-end Ranking 2 4 7 1
Tournament 2018 2019 2020 Best
Tournament 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Best
BWF Superseries
  All England Open A R1 (WD) R2 (WD) R2 (WD) R1 (WD) SF R1 W R2 W (2016)
  Swiss Open A R1 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		GPG R2 (2011, 2012)
  India Open GPG R2 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		QF (WD) SF (WD) QF W W A W (2015, 2016)
  Malaysia Open A R1 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		R2 (WD) A F (WD) F R1 QF SF F (2013, 2014)
  Singapore Open A R1 (WD) R2 (WD) R2 (WD) F (WD) SF F F F F (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  Australian Open IS GP/GPG F SF QF W W (2017)
  Indonesia Open A R1 (WD) R1 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		A QF (WD) R2 R2 W R1 W (2016)
  Japan Open R2 (WD) R2 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		R2 (WD) R1 (WD) R2 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		SF (WD)
QF (XD) 		W R2 F W W (2014, 2017)
  China Open A QF (WD)
R2 (XD) 		QF (WD) QF (WD) QF (WD) SF F R2 QF F (2015)
  Korea Open A QF (WD)
R1 (XD) 		R2 (WD) A QF (WD) QF w/d A SF SF (2017)
  Denmark Open A R2 (WD) QF (WD) F (WD) SF (WD) F R2 W R2 W (2016)
  French Open A R1 (WD) QF (WD) QF (WD) QF R2 SF QF SF (2016)
  China Masters A R1 (WS)
R1 (WD) 		A R1 (WD)
R2 (XD) 		A QF (WD)
R1 (XD) 		GPG QF (2013)
  Hong Kong Open A R2 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		QF (WD) SF (WD) F QF QF R1 F (2017)
BWF Super Series Finals DNQ GS (WD) GS (WD) W SF F DNQ W (2014)
Year-end Ranking 172 (WS)
41 (WD)
138 (XD) 		21 (WD)
70 (XD) 		17 (WD)
52 (XD) 		7 (WD)
119 (XD) 		4 (WD)
216 (XD) 		2 4 1 2 1 (WD)
Tournament 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Best
Tournament 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Best
BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold
  Malaysia Masters A R2 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		R1 (WD) A W A W (2016)
  Syed Modi International R1 (WS)
W (WD) 		A — A W (2009)
  German Open A R2 (WD)
R2 (XD) 		QF (WD) SF (WD) W R2 SF A W (2014)
  Swiss Open SS R2 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		R2 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		A R2 (2011, 2012)
  India Open R1 (WS)
R2 (WD) 		A SS R2 (2009)
  Thailand Open R1 (WS)
QF (WD) 		— A — A QF (2009)
  Dutch Open A R1 (WD) A R1 (2010)
  Australian Open A QF (WD)
SF (XD) 		QF (WD)
R2 (XD) 		QF (WD)
R1 (XD) 		A SS SF (2010)
  Chinese Taipei Open R1 (WD) A SF A SF (2015)
  Russian Open A F (WD) A F (2011)
  U.S. Open A R1 (WD)
R1 (XD) 		W (WD)
QF (XD) 		A W (2012)
  Canada Open — A W (WD)
W (XD) 		A W (2012 (WD), 2012 (WD))
  Indonesian Masters — A W (WD) A — W (2012)
Tournament 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Best

Record against selected opponents edit

Record against year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists.[15]

Misaki Matsutomo edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "日本ユニシス実業団バドミントン部 髙橋礼華選手の現役引退、松友美佐紀選手の現役続行のお知らせ" (PDF). www.unisys.co.jp (in Japanese). 19 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b "選手・スタッフ紹介: 高橋 礼華 Ayaka Takahashi". www.unisys.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  3. ^ "「平成28年度第70回全日本総合バドミントン選手権大会」 女子ダブルス高橋礼華・松友美佐紀組 優勝！". www.unisys.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  4. ^ "日本代表ナショナルチーム女子ダブルス高橋＆松友ペア 日本勢初の快挙、世界ランキング1位に！！". www.yonex.co.jp (in Japanese). 31 October 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b Sukumar, Dev (26 August 2020). "Genius in Action: Ayaka Takahashi". bwfbadminton.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Lee, Matsutomo/Takahashi Win Best Player Awards". bwfbadminton.com. Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  7. ^ "髙橋礼華 Ayaka Takahashi". s-rights.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Matsutomo, Takahashi claim Japan's first-ever Olympic badminton gold". www.japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  9. ^ "Olympic badminton gold medalist Ayaka Takahashi retires due to lack of fire". www.japantimes.co.jp. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  10. ^ "リオ金の高橋礼華さん結婚、松友とペアの金子祐樹と". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 30 December 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  11. ^ Alleyne, Gayle (19 March 2017). "BWF Launches New Events Structure". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  12. ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  13. ^ "BWF Launches Super Series". Badminton Australia. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007.
  14. ^ "Yonex All England Elevated To BWF Premier Super Series Event". IBadmintonstore. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  15. ^ "Ayaka Takahashi's Profile – Head To Head". bwfbadminton.com. Retrieved 3 September 2020.

External links edit

 
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