Ayaka Takahashi

Japanese badminton player (born 1990) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

Born (1990-04-19) 19 April 1990 (age 36)
Kashihara, Nara, Japan
Height1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Spouse
​
(m. 2020)​
CountryJapan
Quick facts Personal information, Born ...
Ayaka Takahashi
Takahashi at the 2013 French Super Series
Personal information
Born (1990-04-19) 19 April 1990 (age 36)
Kashihara, Nara, Japan
Height1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Spouse
​
(m. 2020)​
Sport
CountryJapan
SportBadminton
HandednessRight
Retired31 August 2020[1]
Women's doubles
Highest ranking1 (with Misaki Matsutomo, 20 October 2014)
BWF profile
Medal record
Women's badminton
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2016 Rio de JaneiroWomen's doubles
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2017 GlasgowWomen's doubles
Sudirman Cup
Silver medal – second place2015 DonggguanMixed team
Silver medal – second place2019 NanningMixed team
Bronze medal – third place2017 Gold CoastMixed team
Uber Cup
Gold medal – first place2018 BangkokWomen's team
Silver medal – second place2014 New DelhiWomen's team
Bronze medal – third place2012 WuhanWomen's team
Bronze medal – third place2016 KunshanWomen's team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2018 Jakarta–PalembangWomen's team
Silver medal – second place2014 IncheonWomen's doubles
Silver medal – second place2018 Jakarta–PalembangWomen's doubles
Bronze medal – third place2014 IncheonWomen's team
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place2016 WuhanWomen's doubles
Gold medal – first place2017 WuhanWomen's doubles
Silver medal – second place2018 WuhanWomen's doubles
Bronze medal – third place2015 WuhanWomen's doubles
Asia Mixed Team Championships
Gold medal – first place2017 Ho Chi MinhMixed team
Asia Team Championships
Gold medal – first place2018 Alor SetarWomen's team
Silver medal – second place2016 HyderabadWomen's team
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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 (right) and Matsutomo at the 2016 Indonesia Super Series Premier

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] Takahashi announced the birth of her first child, a daughter, on her Instagram on 23 February 2022.[11]

Awards and nominations

More information Award, Year ...
Award Year Category Result Ref.
BWF Awards 2016 Female Player of the Year with Misaki Matsutomo Won [12]
Medal with Purple Ribbon awarded by the Emperor of Japan 2016 Individual Sports with Misaki Matsutomo Won [13][14]
Nara Prefectural Honour Award 2016 Athletes Won [15][16]
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Achievements

Olympic Games

Women's doubles

More information Year, Venue ...
Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
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 [17][18]
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World Championships

Women's doubles

More information Year, Venue ...
Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
2017 Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Chen Qingchen
China Jia Yifan		 17–21, 15–21 Bronze Bronze [19]
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Asian Games

Women's doubles

More information Year, Venue ...
Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
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 [20]
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Asian Championships

Women's doubles

More information Year, Venue ...
Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
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 [21]
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BWF World Tour (6 titles, 6 runners-up)

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[22] 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.[23]

Women's doubles

More information Year, Tournament ...
Year Tournament Level Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
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 [24]
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 [25]
2018 Korea Open Super 500 Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Yuki Fukushima
Japan Sayaka Hirota		 21–11, 21–18 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [26]
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 [27]
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 [28]
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 [29]
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BWF Superseries (9 titles, 13 runners-up)

The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[30] 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.[31] Successful players were invited to the Superseries Finals, which were held at the end of each year.

Women's doubles

More information Year, Tournament ...
Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
2012 Denmark Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Ma Jin
China Tang Jinhua		 8–21, 12–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up [32]
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 [33]
2014 Japan Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Reika Kakiiwa
Japan Miyuki Maeda		 21–13, 21–17 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [34]
2014 Australian Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tian Qing
China Zhao Yunlei		 15–21, 9–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up [35]
2014 Denmark Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Wang Xiaoli
China Yu Yang		 14–21, 14–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up [36]
2014 Hong Kong Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tian Qing
China Zhao Yunlei		 13–21, 13–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up [37]
2014 Dubai World Superseries Finals Japan Misaki Matsutomo China Tian Qing
China Zhao Yunlei		 21–17, 21–14 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [38]
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 [39]
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
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  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

More information Year, Tournament ...
Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
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 [40]
2012 Canada Open Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Yuriko Miki
Japan Koharu Yonemoto		 21–15, 15–21, 21–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [41]
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
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Mixed doubles

More information Year, Tournament ...
Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
2012 Canada Open Japan Ryota Taohata Japan Takeshi Kamura
Japan Koharu Yonemoto		 21–14, 21–16 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [41]
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  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF Grand Prix tournament

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

Women's singles

More information Year, Tournament ...
Year Tournament Opponent Score Result Ref
2008 Waikato International Japan Sayaka Sato 21–11, 17–21, 28–26 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [42]
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Women's doubles

More information Year, Tournament ...
Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
2008 Smiling Fish International Japan Koharu Yonemoto Japan Megumi Taruno
Japan Oku Yukina		 15–21, 20–22 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up [43]
2008 Waikato International Japan Koharu Yonemoto New Zealand Renee Flavell
New Zealand Rachel Hindley		 21–18, 21–19 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [42]
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 [44]
2009 Osaka International Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Kaori Mori
Japan Aya Wakisaka		 21–16, 16–21, 24–22 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [45]
2009 Belgian International Japan Misaki Matsutomo Scotland Emma Mason
England Samantha Ward		 21–8, 18–21, 21–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [46]
2010 Osaka International Japan Misaki Matsutomo Japan Mizuki Fujii
Japan Reika Kakiiwa		 19–21, 16–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up [47]
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  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament

Performance timeline

National team

  • Senior level
More information Team events ...
Team events201220132014201520162017201820192020
Asia Team Championships N/a Silver Silver N/a Gold Gold N/a A
Asia Mixed Team Championships N/a Gold Gold N/a A N/a
Asian Games N/a Bronze Bronze N/a Gold Gold N/a
Uber Cup Bronze N/a Silver N/a Bronze N/a Gold N/a
Sudirman Cup N/a QF N/a Silver Silver N/a Bronze Bronze N/a Silver Silver N/a
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Individual competitions

  • Senior level
More information Events ...
Events201120122013201420152016201720182019
Asian Championships R1 A R1 A Bronze Bronze Gold Gold Gold Gold Silver Silver R1
Asian Games N/a Silver N/a Silver N/a
World Championships R3 N/a R2 R3 R3 N/a Bronze Bronze R3 QF
Olympic Games N/a A N/a Gold Gold N/a
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More information Tournament, Best ...
Tournament201820192020Best
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 N/a 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
Tournament201820192020Best
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More information Tournament, Best ...
Tournament2008200920102011201220132014201520162017Best
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)
Tournament2008200920102011201220132014201520162017Best
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More information Tournament, Best ...
Tournament200920102011201220132014201520162017Best
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 N/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)		 N/a A N/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 N/a A W (WD)
W (XD)		 A W (2012 (WD), 2012 (WD))
Indonesia Indonesian Masters N/a A W (WD) A N/a W (2012)
Tournament200920102011201220132014201520162017Best
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Record against selected opponents

Record against year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists.[48]

Misaki Matsutomo

More information Players, M ...
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References

External links

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