Japan levels up with sights set on 5 golds… and cash
4 min readIn the earlier, the medal count for badminton was dominated by five nations around the world – China, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Denmark – whilst Japan fell much guiding.
Having said that, because 2004, immediately after pretty much 10 yrs of coaching by Park Joo Bong, the Men’s and Mixed Doubles legend from South Korea, Japan has stepped up its match with solid performances and effects in the five types of singles and doubles.
With a residence ground benefit and eye-catching bonuses dangled by the Nippon Badminton Association, Japan is strongly poised to earn all 5 golds at the Tokyo Game titles.
Badminton was an exhibition sport in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and turned formal only in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. In the previous seven Olympics, only 6 nations have gained gold medals.
China has dominated the sport with a spectacular history of 18 gold medals. In the 2012 London Olympic Online games, China built heritage by sweeping all five gold medals.
Next and 3rd in phrases of gold medals is Indonesia with 7 and South Korea with six, when Denmark, Spain and Japan have gained just one just about every. Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo were being the very first Japanese badminton gamers to make heritage winning the championship in the doubles class in the 2016 Rio Olympics. But given that then, Matsutomo has retired and the quest for the title has been passed down to their 4 (two pairs) successors.
Income prize commitment
To encourage the countrywide Olympians in Tokyo, Kinji Zeniya, Secretary-General of the Nippon Badminton Association, has shared – in media reviews – that there will be dollars bonuses, with 10 million yen (about S$121,300) for the gold medallists, 5 million yen (S$60,650) for silver and three million yen (S$36,400) for bronze. He also produced it very clear that the team’s all round aim is to gain medals in all five classes, 3 of which ought to be gold medals.
Two-time planet winner, Kento Momota, remains the favorite for the Japanese to declare the top place. Even with currently being slapped with a ban in the 2016 Rio Olympics for gambling, Momota has built a strong comeback, profitable practically all title matches.
Even though he experienced a vehicle accident in Malaysia last January, the 1-yr hold off brought on by the pandemic has bought time for him to recuperate and readjust. Regardless of becoming knocked out in the quarter-finals of the All England Open in March this year, the world No. 1 has produced an outstanding return and is envisioned to be in top rated form at the Games.
Japan is also aiming for initial place in the women’s singles. Led by Nozomi Okuhara and Akane Yamaguchi, the Japanese facet have defeated sturdy opponents like Tai Tsu-yin (Chinese Taipei), Chen Yufei (China) and P.V. Sindhu (India).
The Japanese ladies have shown both competence and consistency. Okuhara, the Rio Olympics’ Bronze medallist and 2017 globe winner who secured her second All England Open title this March, is a formidable foe. Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota and Mayu Matsumoto/Wakana Nagahara, recurrent finalists in globe championships, are established to preserve Japan in main competition for the Women’s Doubles title.
Mixed doubles hopes
As for the relaxation of the categories, the 24-12 months-outdated upstart, Yuta Watanabe, has manufactured visible enhancements, profitable two All England Open up gold medals in a row with his lover Hiroyuki Endo. Incredibly hot favourites to get the Men’s Doubles, the two Japanese males have also efficiently defeated the invincible Indonesian Minions – Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo/Marcus Fernaldi Gideon.
Watanabe is also pairing up with Arisa Higashino for the mixed doubles title, hoping to make heritage as only the third player right after Kim Dong Moon of South Korea and Zhang Nan of China to acquire both the men’s doubles and combined doubles titles.
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Tokyo Olympics Badminton Competitions
When: 24 July to 2 August
Events: Guys/Women’s Singles, Doubles and Combined Doubles
Variety of gold medals: 5
