Ayaka Takahashi

Ayaka Takahashi (高橋 礼華, Takahashi Ayaka, born 19 April 1990) is a retired Japanese badminton player who affiliated with Unisys badminton team. She is an Olympic Games gold medalist, two times Asian Champions, two times Asian Games silver medalists, and World Championships bronze medalist.[3]

Ayaka Takahashi
Takahashi at the 2013 French Super Series
Personal information
CountryJapan
Born (1990-04-19) 19 April 1990
Kashihara, Nara, Japan
Height1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Retired31 August 2020[1]
HandednessRight
Women's doubles
Highest ranking1 (20 October 2014)
Current ranking7 (17 March 2020[2])
BWF profile

Played for the Unisys team with her regular partner Misaki Matsutomo in the women's doubles, she won five National Championships titles.[4] In the international event, Takahashi and Matsutomo were ranked as world number 1 in BWF World Ranking in October 2014.[5] They had won numerous international titles, including the year-end tournament finals in 2014 and 2018; the historical tournament All England Open in 2016; Olympic Games in 2016; and also Asian Championships in 2016 and 2017.[3][6] The duo were awarded as Female Player of the Year by the Badminton World Federation in 2016.[7]

Takahashi also a member of the Japanese winning team at the Asia Mixed Team Championships in 2017; the women's team events of the Asia Team Championships, Asian Games, and the Uber Cup in 2018.[6][8]

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.[9] She and her women's doubles partner Matsutomo also honored with the Female Player of the Year award.[7] 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][10]

Personal life

Takahashi is the older sister of Sayaka Takahashi who is also a badminton player in the singles event.

Achievements

Olympic Games

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

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

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

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)

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 Tours are 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)

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

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) which was held from 2007 to 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)

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

National team

  • Senior level
Team events201220132014201520162017201820192020
Asia Team Championships N/A Silver N/A Gold N/A A
Asia Mixed Team Championships N/A Gold N/A A N/A
Asian Games N/A Bronze N/A 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 N/A Bronze N/A Silver N/A

Individual competitions

  • Senior level
Events201120122013201420152016201720182019
Asian Championships R1 A R1 A Bronze Gold Gold Silver R1
Asian Games N/A Silver N/A Silver N/A
World Championships R3 N/A R2 R3 R3 N/A Bronze R3 QF
Olympic Games N/A A N/A Gold N/A
Tournament201820192020Best
BWF World Tour
Malaysia Masters QF SF QF W (2016)
Indonesian Masters W W SF W (2012, 2018, 2019)
German Open w/d F N/A 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 1
Tournament201820192020Best
Tournament2008200920102011201220132014201520162017Best
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)
Tournament2008200920102011201220132014201520162017Best
Tournament200920102011201220132014201520162017Best
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 N/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)
N/A A N/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)
Canadian Open N/A A W (WD)
W (XD)
A W (2012 (WD), 2012 (WD))
Indonesian Masters N/A A W (WD) A N/A W (2012)
Tournament200920102011201220132014201520162017Best

Record against selected opponents

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

Misaki Matsutomo

References

  1. "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. "BWF Rankings – Women's doubles (17 March 2020)". bwfbadminton.com. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  3. "選手・スタッフ紹介: 高橋 礼華 Ayaka Takahashi". www.unisys.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  4. "「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.
  5. "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.
  6. Sukumar, Dev (26 August 2020). "Genius in Action: Ayaka Takahashi". bwfbadminton.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  7. "Lee, Matsutomo/Takahashi Win Best Player Awards". bwfbadminton.com. Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  8. "髙橋礼華 Ayaka Takahashi". s-rights.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  9. "Matsutomo, Takahashi claim Japan's first-ever Olympic badminton gold". www.japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  10. "Olympic badminton gold medalist Ayaka Takahashi retires due to lack of fire". www.japantimes.co.jp. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  11. Alleyne, Gayle (19 March 2017). "BWF Launches New Events Structure". bwfbadminton.com. 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!". bwfbadminton.com. 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". www.ibadmintonstore.com. 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.
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