Ayaka Takahashi

Ayaka Takahashi
Takahashi at the 2013 French Super Series
Personal information
CountryJapan
Born (1990-04-19) 19 April 1990 (age 33)
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)
BWF profile

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]

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

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

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

Olympic Games

Women's doubles

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

BWF World Championships

Women's doubles

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

Asian Games

Women's doubles

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

Asian Championships

Women's doubles

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

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

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 Japan Misaki Matsutomo Indonesia Greysia Polii
Indonesia Apriyani Rahayu
21–17, 21–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2018 Malaysia Open Super 750 Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Chen Qingchen
China Jia Yifan
21–12, 21–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2018 Thailand Open Super 500 Japan Misaki Matsutomo Indonesia Greysia Polii
Indonesia Apriyani Rahayu
13–21, 10–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2018 China Open Super 1000 Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Mayu Matsumoto
Japan Wakana Nagahara
21–16, 21–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2018 Korea Open Super 500 Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Yuki Fukushima
Japan Sayaka Hirota
21–11, 21–18 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2018 BWF World Tour Finals World Tour Finals Japan Misaki Matsutomo South Korea Lee So-hee
South Korea Shin Seung-chan
21–12, 22–20 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2019 Indonesia Masters Super 500 Japan Misaki Matsutomo South Korea Kim So-yeong
South Korea Kong Hee-yong
21–19, 21–15 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2019 German Open Super 300 Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Du Yue
China Li Yinhui
20–22, 15–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2019 New Zealand Open Super 300 Japan Misaki Matsutomo South Korea Kim So-yeong
South Korea Kong Hee-yong
15–21, 18–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2019 Indonesia Open Super 1000 Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Yuki Fukushima
Japan Sayaka Hirota
16–21, 18–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2019 China Open Super 1000 Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Chen Qingchen
China Jia Yifan
14–21, 18–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2019 Korea Masters Super 300 Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Nami Matsuyama
Japan Chiharu Shida
21–15, 17–21, 18–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

BWF Superseries (9 titles, 13 runners-up)

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 Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Ma Jin
China Tang Jinhua
8–21, 12–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2013 Malaysia Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Bao Yixin
China Tian Qing
16–21, 14–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2013 Singapore Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tian Qing
China Zhao Yunlei
19–21, 16–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2014 Malaysia Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Bao Yixin
China Tang Jinhua
19–21, 21–14, 13–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2014 Japan Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Reika Kakiiwa
Japan Miyuki Maeda
21–13, 21–17 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2014 Australian Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tian Qing
China Zhao Yunlei
15–21, 9–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2014 Denmark Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Wang Xiaoli
China Yu Yang
14–21, 14–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2014 Hong Kong Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tian Qing
China Zhao Yunlei
13–21, 13–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2014 Dubai World Superseries Finals Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tian Qing
China Zhao Yunlei
21–17, 21–14 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2015 India Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Luo Ying
China Luo Yu
21–19, 21–19 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2015 Singapore Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Ou Dongni
China Yu Xiaohan
17–21, 16–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2015 China Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tang Yuanting
China Yu Yang
21–18, 13–21, 12–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2016 All England Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tang Yuanting
China Yu Yang
21–10, 21–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2016 India Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Naoko Fukuman
Japan Kurumi Yonao
21–18, 21–18 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2016 Singapore Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Indonesia Nitya Krishinda Maheswari
Indonesia Greysia Polii
Walkover 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2016 Indonesia Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tang Yuanting
China Yu Yang
21–15, 8–21, 21–15 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2016 Japan Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Denmark Christinna Pedersen
Denmark Kamilla Rytter Juhl
21–19, 18–21, 12–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2016 Denmark Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo South Korea Jung Kyung-eun
South Korea Shin Seung-chan
19–21, 21–11, 21–16 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2016 Dubai World Superseries Finals Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Chen Qingchen
China Jia Yifan
15–21, 21–13, 17–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2017 Singapore Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Denmark Christinna Pedersen
Denmark Kamilla Rytter Juhl
18–21, 21–14, 15–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2017 Australian Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Denmark Christinna Pedersen
Denmark Kamilla Rytter Juhl
21–10, 21–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2017 Japan Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo South Korea Kim Ha-na
South Korea Kong Hee-yong
21–18, 21–16 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
  BWF Superseries Finals tournament
  BWF Superseries Premier tournament
  BWF Superseries tournament

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

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 Japan Misaki Matsutomo Indonesia Nadya Melati
Indonesia Devi Tika Permatasari
21–14, 15–21, 21–15 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2011 Russian Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Russia Valeri Sorokina
Russia Nina Vislova
20–22, 18–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2012 U.S. Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Russia Valeri Sorokina
Russia Nina Vislova
21–19, 21–17 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2012 Canada Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Yuriko Miki
Japan Koharu Yonemoto
21–15, 15–21, 21–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2012 Indonesia Grand Prix Gold Japan Misaki Matsutomo South Korea Eom Hye-won
South Korea Jang Ye-na
21–12, 12–21, 21–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2014 German Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo South Korea Jung Kyung-eun
South Korea Kim Ha-na
23–21, 24–22 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2016 Malaysia Masters Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tang Yuanting
China Yu Yang
21–18, 22–20 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2012 Canada Open Japan Ryota Taohata Japan Takeshi Kamura
Japan Koharu Yonemoto
21–14, 21–16 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF Grand Prix tournament

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

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2008 Waikato International Japan Sayaka Sato 21–11, 17–21, 28–26 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2008 Smiling Fish International Japan Koharu Yonemoto Japan Megumi Taruno
Japan Oku Yukina
15–21, 20–22 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2008 Waikato International Japan Koharu Yonemoto New Zealand Renee Flavell
New Zealand Rachel Hindley
21–18, 21–19 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2008 North Shore City International Japan Koharu Yonemoto New Zealand Renee Flavell
New Zealand Rachel Hindley
21–9, 21–15 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2009 Osaka International Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Kaori Mori
Japan Aya Wakisaka
21–16, 16–21, 24–22 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2009 Belgian International Japan Misaki Matsutomo Scotland Emma Mason
England Samantha Ward
21–8, 18–21, 21–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2010 Osaka International Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Mizuki Fujii
Japan Reika Kakiiwa
19–21, 16–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament

Performance timeline

National team

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

Individual competitions

  • Senior level
Events 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Asian Championships R1 A R1 A Bronze Bronze Gold Gold Gold Gold Silver Silver R1
Asian Games Silver Silver
World Championships R3 R2 R3 R3 Bronze Bronze R3 QF
Olympic Games A Gold Gold
Tournament 2018 2019 2020 Best
BWF World Tour
Malaysia Malaysia Masters QF SF QF W (2016)
Indonesia Indonesia Masters W W SF W (2012, 2018, 2019)
Germany German Open w/d F W (2014)
England All England Open QF R1 SF W (2016)
Singapore Singapore Open A R2 Ret F (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Australia Australian Open A SF W (2017)
South Korea Korea Open W QF W (2018)
China China Open W F W (2018)
Japan Japan Open R2 SF W (2014, 2017)
Denmark Denmark Open R2 R1 W (2016)
France French Open QF R2 SF (2016)
New Zealand New Zealand Open A F F (2019)
China Fuzhou China Open SF R2 SF (2018)
Hong Kong Hong Kong Open QF QF F (2017)
Indonesia Indonesia Open SF F W (2016)
India Syed Modi International R1 A W (2009)
Malaysia Malaysia Open W R2 W (2018)
South Korea Korea Masters A F F (2019)
India India Open A W (2015, 2016)
Thailand 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
England All England Open A R1 (WD) R2 (WD) R2 (WD) R1 (WD) SF R1 W R2 W (2016)
Switzerland Swiss Open A R1 (WD)
R1 (XD)
GPG R2 (2011, 2012)
India India Open GPG R2 (WD)
R1 (XD)
QF (WD) SF (WD) QF W W A W (2015, 2016)
Malaysia Malaysia Open A R1 (WD)
R1 (XD)
R2 (WD) A F (WD) F R1 QF SF F (2013, 2014)
Singapore Singapore Open A R1 (WD) R2 (WD) R2 (WD) F (WD) SF F F F F (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Australia Australian Open IS GP/GPG F SF QF W W (2017)
Indonesia Indonesia Open A R1 (WD) R1 (WD)
R1 (XD)
A QF (WD) R2 R2 W R1 W (2016)
Japan 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 China Open A QF (WD)
R2 (XD)
QF (WD) QF (WD) QF (WD) SF F R2 QF F (2015)
South Korea Korea Open A QF (WD)
R1 (XD)
R2 (WD) A QF (WD) QF w/d A SF SF (2017)
Denmark Denmark Open A R2 (WD) QF (WD) F (WD) SF (WD) F R2 W R2 W (2016)
France French Open A R1 (WD) QF (WD) QF (WD) QF R2 SF QF SF (2016)
China China Masters A R1 (WS)
R1 (WD)
A R1 (WD)
R2 (XD)
A QF (WD)
R1 (XD)
GPG QF (2013)
Hong Kong 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 Malaysia Masters A R2 (WD)
R1 (XD)
R1 (WD) A W A W (2016)
India Syed Modi International R1 (WS)
W (WD)
A A W (2009)
Germany German Open A R2 (WD)
R2 (XD)
QF (WD) SF (WD) W R2 SF A W (2014)
Switzerland Swiss Open SS R2 (WD)
R1 (XD)
R2 (WD)
R1 (XD)
A R2 (2011, 2012)
India India Open R1 (WS)
R2 (WD)
A SS R2 (2009)
Thailand Thailand Open R1 (WS) QF (WD) A A QF (2009)
Netherlands Dutch Open A R1 (WD) A R1 (2010)
Australia Australian Open A QF (WD)
SF (XD)
QF (WD)
R2 (XD)
QF (WD)
R1 (XD)
A SS SF (2010)
Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei Open R1 (WD) A SF A SF (2015)
Russia Russian Open A F (WD) A F (2011)
United States U.S. Open A R1 (WD) R1 (XD) W (WD)
QF (XD)
A W (2012)
Canada Canada Open A W (WD)
W (XD)
A W (2012 (WD), 2012 (WD))
Indonesia Indonesian Masters A W (WD) A W (2012)
Tournament 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Best

Record against selected opponents

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

Misaki Matsutomo

References

  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