Ayaka Takahashi (高橋 礼華,Takahashi Ayaka; born 19 April 1990) is a retired Japanesebadminton player who was affiliated with Unisys badminton team. She is anOlympic Games gold medalist, two-timeAsian Champion, two-timeAsian Games silver medalist, andWorld Championship bronze medalist.[2]
Playing for the Unisys team with her regular partnerMisaki Matsutomo in the women's doubles, she won fiveNational Championships titles.[3] In the international event, Takahashi and Matsutomo wereranked world number ones in October 2014.[4] They won numerous international titles, including the year-end tournament finals in2014 and2018; the historicalAll England Open in 2016; the Olympic Games in2016; and also the Asian Championships in2016 and2017.[2][5] The duo won theBadminton World Federation's Female Player of the Year award in 2016.[6]
Takahashi was also a member of the victorious Japanese team at the2017 Asia Mixed Team Championships and of the victorious women's team at the2018 Asia Team Championships,2018 Asian Games, and the2018 Uber Cup.[5][7]
In 2016, Takahashi andMisaki Matsutomo won the women's doubles gold medal at theSummer 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 afterMizuki Fujii andReika 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]
Takahashi is the older sister ofSayaka Takahashi, a singles badminton player. In 2020, Ayaka announced that she had marriedYuki 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]
| Award | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BWF Awards | 2016 | Female Player of the Year withMisaki Matsutomo | Won | [12] |
| Medal with Purple Ribbon awarded by theEmperor of Japan | 2016 | Individual Sports with Misaki Matsutomo | Won | [13][14] |
| Nara Prefectural Honour Award | 2016 | Athletes | Won | [15][16] |
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Riocentro - Pavilion 4,Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 18–21, 21–9, 21–19 |
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Emirates Arena,Glasgow, Scotland | 17–21, 15–21 | Bronze |
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Gyeyang Gymnasium,Incheon, South Korea | 15–21, 9–21 | Silver | ||
| 2018 | Istora Gelora Bung Karno,Jakarta, Indonesia | 20–22, 20–22 | Silver |
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium,Wuhan, China | 18–21, 21–18, 15–21 | Bronze | ||
| 2016 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | 21–13, 21–15 | Gold | ||
| 2017 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | 21–19, 16–21, 21–10 | Gold | ||
| 2018 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | 18–21, 21–18, 15–21 | Silver |
The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[17] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by theBadminton 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.[18]
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | 21–17, 21–12 | |||
| 2018 | Malaysia Open | Super 750 | 21–12, 21–12 | |||
| 2018 | Thailand Open | Super 500 | 13–21, 10–21 | |||
| 2018 | China Open | Super 1000 | 21–16, 21–12 | |||
| 2018 | Korea Open | Super 500 | 21–11, 21–18 | |||
| 2018 | BWF World Tour Finals | World Tour Finals | 21–12, 22–20 | |||
| 2019 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | 21–19, 21–15 | |||
| 2019 | German Open | Super 300 | 20–22, 15–21 | |||
| 2019 | New Zealand Open | Super 300 | 15–21, 18–21 | |||
| 2019 | Indonesia Open | Super 1000 | 16–21, 18–21 | |||
| 2019 | China Open | Super 1000 | 14–21, 18–21 | |||
| 2019 | Korea Masters | Super 300 | 21–15, 17–21, 18–21 |
The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[19] was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by theBadminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels wereSuperseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consisted of twelve tournaments around the world that had been introduced since 2011.[20] 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 | 8–21, 12–21 | |||
| 2013 | Malaysia Open | 16–21, 14–21 | |||
| 2013 | Singapore Open | 19–21, 16–21 | |||
| 2014 | Malaysia Open | 19–21, 21–14, 13–21 | |||
| 2014 | Japan Open | 21–13, 21–17 | |||
| 2014 | Australian Open | 15–21, 9–21 | |||
| 2014 | Denmark Open | 14–21, 14–21 | |||
| 2014 | Hong Kong Open | 13–21, 13–21 | |||
| 2014 | Dubai World Superseries Finals | 21–17, 21–14 | |||
| 2015 | India Open | 21–19, 21–19 | |||
| 2015 | Singapore Open | 17–21, 16–21 | |||
| 2015 | China Open | 21–18, 13–21, 12–21 | |||
| 2016 | All England Open | 21–10, 21–12 | |||
| 2016 | India Open | 21–18, 21–18 | |||
| 2016 | Singapore Open | Walkover | |||
| 2016 | Indonesia Open | 21–15, 8–21, 21–15 | |||
| 2016 | Japan Open | 21–19, 18–21, 12–21 | |||
| 2016 | Denmark Open | 19–21, 21–11, 21–16 | |||
| 2016 | Dubai World Superseries Finals | 15–21, 21–13, 17–21 | |||
| 2017 | Singapore Open | 18–21, 21–14, 15–21 | |||
| 2017 | Australian Open | 21–10, 21–13 | |||
| 2017 | Japan Open | 21–18, 21–16 |
The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, theGrand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by theBadminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | India Grand Prix | 21–14, 15–21, 21–15 | |||
| 2011 | Russian Open | 20–22, 18–21 | |||
| 2012 | U.S. Open | 21–19, 21–17 | |||
| 2012 | Canada Open | 21–15, 15–21, 21–12 | |||
| 2012 | Indonesia Grand Prix Gold | 21–12, 12–21, 21–13 | |||
| 2014 | German Open | 23–21, 24–22 | |||
| 2016 | Malaysia Masters | 21–18, 22–20 |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Canada Open | 21–14, 21–16 |
Women's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Waikato International | 21–11, 17–21, 28–26 |
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Smiling Fish International | 15–21, 20–22 | [21] | |||
| 2008 | Waikato International | 21–18, 21–19 | ||||
| 2008 | North Shore City International | 21–9, 21–15 | ||||
| 2009 | Osaka International | 21–16, 16–21, 24–22 | ||||
| 2009 | Belgian International | 21–8, 18–21, 21–13 | ||||
| 2010 | Osaka International | 19–21, 16–21 |
| 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 | — |
| 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 | ||||
| QF | SF | QF | W (2016) | |
| W | W | SF | W (2012, 2018, 2019) | |
| w/d | F | — | W (2014) | |
| QF | R1 | SF | W (2016) | |
| A | R2 | Ret | F (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017) | |
| A | SF | W (2017) | ||
| W | QF | W (2018) | ||
| W | F | W (2018) | ||
| R2 | SF | W (2014, 2017) | ||
| R2 | R1 | W (2016) | ||
| QF | R2 | SF (2016) | ||
| A | F | F (2019) | ||
| SF | R2 | SF (2018) | ||
| QF | QF | F (2017) | ||
| SF | F | W (2016) | ||
| R1 | A | W (2009) | ||
| W | R2 | W (2018) | ||
| A | F | F (2019) | ||
| A | W (2015, 2016) | |||
| 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 | |||||||||||
| A | R1 (WD) | R2 (WD) | R2 (WD) | R1 (WD) | SF | R1 | W | R2 | W (2016) | ||
| A | R1 (WD) R1 (XD) | GPG | R2 (2011, 2012) | ||||||||
| GPG | R2 (WD) R1 (XD) | QF (WD) | SF (WD) | QF | W | W | A | W (2015, 2016) | |||
| A | R1 (WD) R1 (XD) | R2 (WD) | A | F (WD) | F | R1 | QF | SF | F (2013, 2014) | ||
| A | R1 (WD) | R2 (WD) | R2 (WD) | F (WD) | SF | F | F | F | F (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017) | ||
| IS | GP/GPG | F | SF | QF | W | W (2017) | |||||
| A | R1 (WD) | R1 (WD) R1 (XD) | A | QF (WD) | R2 | R2 | W | R1 | W (2016) | ||
| 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) | |
| A | QF (WD) R2 (XD) | QF (WD) | QF (WD) | QF (WD) | SF | F | R2 | QF | F (2015) | ||
| A | QF (WD) R1 (XD) | R2 (WD) | A | QF (WD) | QF | w/d | A | SF | SF (2017) | ||
| A | R2 (WD) | QF (WD) | F (WD) | SF (WD) | F | R2 | W | R2 | W (2016) | ||
| A | R1 (WD) | QF (WD) | QF (WD) | QF | R2 | SF | QF | SF (2016) | |||
| A | R1 (WS) R1 (WD) | A | R1 (WD) R2 (XD) | A | QF (WD) R1 (XD) | GPG | QF (2013) | ||||
| 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 | ||||||||||
| A | R2 (WD) R1 (XD) | R1 (WD) | A | W | A | W (2016) | ||||
| R1 (WS) W (WD) | A | — | A | W (2009) | ||||||
| A | R2 (WD) R2 (XD) | QF (WD) | SF (WD) | W | R2 | SF | A | W (2014) | ||
| SS | R2 (WD) R1 (XD) | R2 (WD) R1 (XD) | A | R2 (2011, 2012) | ||||||
| R1 (WS) R2 (WD) | A | SS | R2 (2009) | |||||||
| R1 (WS) QF (WD) | — | A | — | A | QF (2009) | |||||
| A | R1 (WD) | A | R1 (2010) | |||||||
| A | QF (WD) SF (XD) | QF (WD) R2 (XD) | QF (WD) R1 (XD) | A | SS | SF (2010) | ||||
| R1 (WD) | A | SF | A | SF (2015) | ||||||
| A | F (WD) | A | F (2011) | |||||||
| A | R1 (WD) R1 (XD) | W (WD) QF (XD) | A | W (2012) | ||||||
| — | A | W (WD) W (XD) | A | W (2012 (WD), 2012 (WD)) | ||||||
| — | A | W (WD) | A | — | W (2012) | |||||
| Tournament | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Best |
Record against year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists.[22]
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