# Ayaka Takahashi

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.
Playing for the Unisys team with her regular partner Misaki Matsutomo in the women's doubles, she won five National Championships titles. In the international event, Takahashi and Matsutomo were ranked world number ones in October 2014. 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. The duo won the Badminton World Federation's Female Player of the Year award in 2016.
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.

## 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. She and her women's doubles partner Matsutomo also honored with the Female Player of the Year award. 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.

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

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Category | Result |
| BWF Awards | 2016 | Female Player of the Year with Misaki Matsutomo | Won |
| Medal with Purple Ribbon awarded by the Emperor of Japan | 2016 | Individual Sports with Misaki Matsutomo | Won |
| Nara Prefectural Honour Award | 2016 | Athletes | Won |

## 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, 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.
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, 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. 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 | 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 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 | 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 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 | — |

### Individual competitions

* Senior level
| 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 |||||
| Malaysia Masters | QF | SF | QF | W (2016) |
| Indonesia Masters | W | W | SF | W (2012, 2018, 2019) |
| German Open | w/d | F | — | W (2014) |
| All England Open | QF | R1 | SF | W (2016) |
| Singapore Open | A | R2 | Ret | F (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017) |
| Australian Open | A | SF | Ret | W (2017) |
| Korea Open | W | QF | Ret | W (2018) |
| China Open | W | F | Ret | W (2018) |
| Japan Open | R2 | SF | Ret | W (2014, 2017) |
| Denmark Open | R2 | R1 | Ret | W (2016) |
| French Open | QF | R2 | Ret | SF (2016) |
| New Zealand Open | A | F | Ret | F (2019) |
| Fuzhou China Open | SF | R2 | Ret | SF (2018) |
| Hong Kong Open | QF | QF | Ret | F (2017) |
| Indonesia Open | SF | F | Ret | W (2016) |
| Syed Modi International | R1 | A | Ret | W (2009) |
| Malaysia Open | W | R2 | Ret | W (2018) |
| Korea Masters | A | F | Ret | F (2019) |
| India Open | A | A | Ret | W (2015, 2016) |
| Thailand Open | F | QF | Ret | F (2018) |
| BWF World Tour Finals | W | DNQ | Ret | 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 ||||||||||||
| All England Open | A | A | R1 (WD) | R2 (WD) | R2 (WD) | R1 (WD) | SF | R1 | W | R2 | W (2016) |
| Swiss Open | A | A | R1 (WD) R1 (XD) | GPG | GPG | GPG | GPG | GPG | GPG | GPG | R2 (2011, 2012) |
| India Open | GPG | GPG | GPG | R2 (WD) R1 (XD) | QF (WD) | SF (WD) | QF | W | W | A | W (2015, 2016) |
| Malaysia Open | A | A | R1 (WD) R1 (XD) | R2 (WD) | A | F (WD) | F | R1 | QF | SF | F (2013, 2014) |
| Singapore Open | A | A | R1 (WD) | R2 (WD) | R2 (WD) | F (WD) | SF | F | F | F | F (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017) |
| Australian Open | IS | GP/GPG | GP/GPG | GP/GPG | GP/GPG | GP/GPG | F | SF | QF | W | W (2017) |
| Indonesia Open | A | 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 | A | QF (WD) R2 (XD) | QF (WD) | QF (WD) | QF (WD) | SF | F | R2 | QF | F (2015) |
| Korea Open | A | A | QF (WD) R1 (XD) | R2 (WD) | A | QF (WD) | QF | w/d | A | SF | SF (2017) |
| Denmark Open | A | A | R2 (WD) | QF (WD) | F (WD) | SF (WD) | F | R2 | W | R2 | W (2016) |
| French Open | A | A | 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 | GPG | GPG | GPG | QF (2013) |
| Hong Kong Open | A | A | A | R2 (WD) R1 (XD) | QF (WD) | SF (WD) | F | QF | QF | R1 | F (2017) |
| BWF Super Series Finals | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 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 Masters | A | R2 (WD) R1 (XD) | R1 (WD) | A | A | A | A | W | A | W (2016) |
| Syed Modi International | R1 (WS) W (WD) | A | A | A | — | A | A | A | A | W (2009) |
| German Open | A | A | R2 (WD) R2 (XD) | QF (WD) | SF (WD) | W | R2 | SF | A | W (2014) |
| Swiss Open | SS | SS | R2 (WD) R1 (XD) | R2 (WD) R1 (XD) | A | A | A | A | A | R2 (2011, 2012) |
| India Open | R1 (WS) R2 (WD) | A | SS | SS | SS | SS | SS | SS | SS | R2 (2009) |
| Thailand Open | R1 (WS) QF (WD) | — | A | A | A | — | A | A | A | QF (2009) |
| Dutch Open | A | R1 (WD) | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | R1 (2010) |
| Australian Open | A | QF (WD) SF (XD) | QF (WD) R2 (XD) | QF (WD) R1 (XD) | A | SS | SS | SS | SS | SF (2010) |
| Chinese Taipei Open | R1 (WD) | A | A | A | A | A | SF | A | A | SF (2015) |
| Russian Open | A | A | F (WD) | A | A | A | A | A | A | F (2011) |
| U.S. Open | A | A | R1 (WD) R1 (XD) | W (WD) QF (XD) | A | A | A | A | A | W (2012) |
| Canada Open | — | A | A | W (WD) W (XD) | A | A | A | A | A | W (2012 (WD), 2012 (WD)) |
| Indonesian Masters | — | A | A | W (WD) | A | A | A | 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.

### Misaki Matsutomo

| Players | M | W | L | Diff. |
| Leanne Choo & Renuga Veeran | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Chen Qingchen & Jia Yifan | 11 | 5 | 6 | –1 |
| Du Jing & Yu Yang | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
| Du Yue & Li Yinhui | 10 | 6 | 4 | +2 |
| Luo Ying & Luo Yu | 9 | 7 | 2 | +5 |
| Ma Jin & Tang Jinhua | 4 | 0 | 4 | –4 |
| Ma Jin & Wang Xiaoli | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
| Tang Yuanting & Yu Yang | 5 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| Tian Qing & Zhao Yunlei | 15 | 6 | 9 | –3 |
| Wang Xiaoli & Yu Yang | 5 | 1 | 4 | –3 |
| Cheng Wen-hsing & Chien Yu-chin | 3 | 0 | 3 | –3 |
| Christinna Pedersen & Kamilla Rytter Juhl | 17 | 11 | 6 | +5 |
| Jwala Gutta & Ashwini Ponnappa | 3 | 3 | 0 | +3 |
| Nitya Krishinda Maheswari & Greysia Polii | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Greysia Polii & Apriyani Rahayu | 12 | 10 | 2 | +8 |
| Mizuki Fujii & Reika Kakiiwa | 6 | 2 | 4 | –2 |
| Players | M | W | L | Diff. |
| Naoko Fukuman & Kurumi Yonao | 11 | 10 | 1 | +9 |
| Yuki Fukushima & Sayaka Hirota | 11 | 4 | 7 | –3 |
| Reika Kakiiwa & Miyuki Maeda | 5 | 5 | 0 | +5 |
| Miyuki Maeda & Satoko Suetsuna | 3 | 1 | 2 | –1 |
| Mayu Matsumoto & Wakana Nagahara | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Shiho Tanaka & Koharu Yonemoto | 8 | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| Vivian Hoo Kah Mun & Woon Khe Wei | 11 | 11 | 0 | +11 |
| Chin Eei Hui & Wong Pei Tty | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
| Eefje Muskens & Selena Piek | 6 | 6 | 0 | +6 |
| Valeria Sorokina & Nina Vislova | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Chang Ye-na & Lee So-hee | 4 | 4 | 0 | +4 |
| Eom Hye-won & Chang Ye-na | 2 | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| Ha Jung-eun & Kim Min-jung | 4 | 0 | 4 | –4 |
| Jung Kyung-eun & Shin Seung-chan | 7 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
| Lee So-hee & Shin Seung-chan | 13 | 7 | 6 | +1 |