Ayaka Takahashi
Ayaka Takahashi is a Japanese female badminton player who is a doubles specialist. She is known as the partner of Misaki Matsutomo. Together they claimed Japan's first ever Olympic badminton gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the women's doubles event.
Career overview
In 2016, she won the women's doubles gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She and her women's doubles partner Misaki Matsutomo also honoured with the Female Player of the Year award. They are playing together for more than ten years, ever since they were schoolmates. Matsutomo and Takahashi 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.Personal life
Takahashi is the older sister of Sayaka Takahashi who is also 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 |
| 2018 | Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia | Misaki Matsutomo | Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan | 20–22, 20–22 | Silver |
| 2014 | Gyeyang Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea | Misaki Matsutomo |  Nitya Krishinda Maheswari Greysia Polii | 15–21, 9–21 | Silver |
Asian Championships
Women's doubles| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2018 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Misaki Matsutomo | Yuki Fukushima Sayaka Hirota | 18–21, 21–18, 15–21 | SIlver |
| 2017 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Misaki Matsutomo |  Kim Hye-rin Yoo Hae-won | 21–19, 16–21, 21–10 | Gold |
| 2016 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Misaki Matsutomo | Naoko Fukuman Kurumi Yonao | 21–13, 21–15 | Gold |
| 2015 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Misaki Matsutomo | Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang | 18–21, 21–18, 15–21 | Bronze |
BWF World Tour (6 titles, 6 runners-up)
The BWF World Tour, announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018, is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation. The BWF World Tour are divided into six levels, namely World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300, and the BWF Tour Super 100.Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2019 | Korea Masters | Super 300 | Misaki Matsutomo | Nami Matsuyama Chiharu Shida | 21–15, 17–21, 18–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | China Open | Super 1000 | Misaki Matsutomo | Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan | 14–21, 18–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Indonesia Open | Super 1000 | Misaki Matsutomo | Yuki Fukushima Sayaka Hirota | 16–21, 18–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | New Zealand Open | Super 300 | Misaki Matsutomo | Kim So-yeong Kong Hee-yong | 15–21, 18–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | German Open | Super 300 | Misaki Matsutomo | Du Yue Li Yinhui | 20–22, 15–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | Misaki Matsutomo | Kim So-yeong Kong Hee-yong | 21–19, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2018 | BWF World Tour Finals | World Tour Finals | Misaki Matsutomo | Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan | 21–12, 22–20 | Winner |
| 2018 | Korea Open | Super 500 | Misaki Matsutomo | Yuki Fukushima Sayaka Hirota | 21–11, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2018 | China Open | Super 1000 | Misaki Matsutomo | Mayu Matsumoto Wakana Nagahara | 21–16, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2018 | Thailand Open | Super 500 | Misaki Matsutomo | Greysia Polii Apriyani Rahayu | 13–21, 10–21 | Runner-up |
| 2018 | Malaysia Open | Super 750 | Misaki Matsutomo | Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan | 21–12, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2018 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | Misaki Matsutomo | Greysia Polii Apriyani Rahayu | 21–17, 21–12 | Winner |
BWF Superseries (9 titles, 13 runners-up)
The BWF Superseries, launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007, is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation. BWF Superseries has two levels: Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries features twelve tournaments around the world, which introduced since 2011, with successful players invited to the Superseries Finals held at the year end.Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2017 | Japan Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Kim Ha-na Kong Hee-yong | 21–18, 21–16 | Winner |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Kamilla Rytter Juhl Christinna Pedersen | 21–10, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2017 | Singapore Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Kamilla Rytter Juhl Christinna Pedersen | 18–21, 21–14, 15–21 | Runner-up |
| 2016 | Super Series Finals | Misaki Matsutomo | Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan | 15–21, 21–13, 17–21 | Runner-up |
| 2016 | Denmark Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Jung Kyung-eun Shin Seung-chan | 19–21, 21–11, 21–16 | Winner |
| 2016 | Japan Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Christinna Pedersen Kamilla Rytter Juhl | 21–19, 18–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
| 2016 | Indonesia Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Tang Yuanting Yu Yang | 21–15, 8–21, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2016 | Singapore Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Nitya Krishinda Maheswari Greysia Polii | Walkover | Runner-up |
| 2016 | India Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Naoko Fukuman Kurumi Yonao | 21–18, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2016 | All England | Misaki Matsutomo | Tang Yuanting Yu Yang | 21–10, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2015 | China Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Tang Yuanting Yu Yang | 21–18, 13–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Singapore Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Ou Dongni Yu Xiaohan | 17–21, 16–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | India Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Luo Ying Luo Yu | 21-19, 21-19 | Winner |
| 2014 | Super Series Finals | Misaki Matsutomo | Tian Qing Zhao Yunlei | 21–17, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2014 | Hong Kong Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Tian Qing Zhao Yunlei | 13–21, 13–21 | Runner-up |
| 2014 | Denmark Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang | 14–21, 14–21 | Runner-up |
| 2014 | Australian Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Tian Qing Zhao Yunlei | 15–21, 9–21 | Runner-up |
| 2014 | Japan Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Reika Kakiiwa Miyuki Maeda | 21-13, 21-17 | Winner |
| 2014 | Malaysia Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Bao Yixin Tang Jinhua | 19-21, 21-14, 13-21 | Runner-up |
| 2013 | Singapore Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Tian Qing Zhao Yunlei | 19-21, 16-21 | Runner-up |
| 2013 | Malaysia Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Bao Yixin Tian Qing | 16–21, 14–21 | Runner-up |
| 2012 | Denmark Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Ma Jin Tang Jinhua | 8–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
BWF Grand Prix (7 titles, 1 runner-up)
The BWF Grand Prix has two level such as Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It is a series of badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation since 2007.Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2016 | Malaysia Masters | Misaki Matsutomo | Tang Yuanting Yu Yang | 21–18, 22–20 | Winner |
| 2014 | German Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Jung Kyung-eun Kim Ha-na | 23–21, 24–22 | Winner |
| 2012 | Indonesian Masters | Misaki Matsutomo | Eom Hye-won Jang Ye-na | 21–12, 12–21, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2012 | Canada Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Koharu Yonemoto Yuriko Miki | 21–15, 15–21, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2012 | U.S. Open | Misaki Matsutomo |  Valeri Sorokina Nina Vislova | 21–19, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2011 | Russian Open | Misaki Matsutomo | Valeri Sorokina Nina Vislova | 20–22, 18–21 | Runner-up |
| 2009 | Syed Modi Memorial | Misaki Matsutomo | Nadya Melati Devi Tika Permatasari | 21–14, 15–21, 21–15 | Winner |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2012 | Canada Open | Ryota Taohata | Takeshi Kamura Koharu Yonemoto | 21–14, 21–16 | Winner |
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 |
| 2010 | Osaka International | Misaki Matsutomo | Mizuki Fujii Reika Kakiiwa | 19–21, 16–21 | Runner-up |
| 2009 | Belgian International | Misaki Matsutomo |  Emma Mason  Samantha Ward | 21–8, 18–21, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2009 | Osaka International | Misaki Matsutomo | Kaori Mori Aya Wakisaka | 21–16, 16–21, 24–22 | Winner |
| 2008 | North Shore City International | Koharu Yonemoto |  Renee Flavell Rachel Hindley | 21–9, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2008 | Waikato International | Koharu Yonemoto | Renee Flavell Rachel Hindley | 21–18, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2008 | Smiling Fish International | Koharu Yonemoto | Oku Yukina Megumi Taruno | 15–21, 20–22 | Runner-up |
Performance timeline
Japanese team
- Senior level
| Team Events | 2016 | 2018 |
| Asia Championships | Silver | Gold |
| Team Events | 2017 |
| Asia Mixed Team Championships | Gold |
| Team Events | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 |
| Asian Games | style="color:#ccc; width: 60px" | Bronze | style="color:#ccc; width: 60px" | Gold |
| Uber Cup | Bronze | Silver | Bronze | Gold |
| Team Events | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 |
| Sudirman Cup | QF | Silver | Bronze | Silver |
Individual competitions
- Senior level
Record Against Selected Opponents
- Leanne Choo & Renuga Veeran 1–0
- / Petya Nedelcheva & Anastasia Russkikh 0–1
- Xia Huan & Tang Jinhua 1–1
- Ma Jin & Tang Jinhua 0–4
- Du Jing & Yu Yang 0–1
- Wang Xiaoli & Yu Yang 1–4
- Tian Qing & Zhao Yunlei 5–9
- Bao Yixin & Zhong Qianxin 0–2
- Bao Yixin & Cheng Shu 1–0
- Bao Yixin & Tang Jinhua 1–3
- Bao Yixin & Tian Qing 0–1
- Luo Ying & Luo Yu 6–2
- Ma Jin & Tang Yuanting 0–2
- Cheng Wen-hsing & Chien Yu-chin 0–3
- Christinna Pedersen & Kamilla Rytter Juhl 10–6
- Poon Lok Yan & Tse Ying Suet 1–1
- Jwala Gutta & Ashwini Ponnappa 3–0
- Mizuki Fujii & Reika Kakiiwa 2–4
- Miyuki Maeda & Satoko Suetsuna 1–2
- Shizuka Matsuo & Mami Naito 5–3
- Reika Kakiiwa & Miyuki Maeda 5–0
- Jung Kyung-eun & Kim Ha-na 3–6
- Ha Jung-eun & Kim Min-jung 0–3
- Jung Kyung-eun & Shin Seung-chan 1–0
- Chin Eei Hui & Wong Pei Tty 0–1
- Vivian Hoo Kah Mun & Woon Khe Wei 8–0
- Eefje Muskens & Selena Piek 6–0
- Valeria Sorokina & Nina Vislova 1–1
- Shinta Mulia Sari & Yao Lei 2–0
- Duanganong Aroonkesorn & Kunchala Voravichitchaikul 2–1
- Puttita Supajirakul & Sapsiree Taerattanachai 3–0