Yuki Fukushima

Jayce September 6, 2024 2 0

Character Introduction

Yuki Fukushima, born May 6, 1993 in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, is a Japanese female badminton player. She is also an active member of the Japan national badminton team. Her team with Saika Hirota debuted at No. 1 in the women’s doubles world rankings on June 21, 2018, the second Japanese team to reach No. 1 in the world rankings after sister Misaki Matsutomo/Reika Takahashi. Fukuhiro is known as “Fukuhiro’s pair” by the media and fans.

In September 2014, Fukushima Yuki played in the Sydney Badminton International, defeating teammate Ito Kona, the No. 4 seed of the tournament, 3-1 (2-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9) in the women’s singles final to seal the first time, and the women’s doubles final with Hirota Saikana, 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-2), defeating multinational duo’s (Indonesia: Sylwina Kurniawan/Australia: Susan Wang) to claim the first place in the world ranking. Australia: Susan Wang) to claim their first international title, making them the double winners of the tournament.

In November 2015, Yuki Fukushima and Saika Hirota played in the Scottish Badminton Grand Prix, where in the final, the pair first won the first set before their opponents opted out at 14-11 in the second set, giving them both their first Grand Prix title together.

In April 2017, the Fuguang duo defeated China’s Huang Yaqiong/Tang Jinhua in the final of the premier Malaysian badminton super tournament with a 2-1 (21-17, 18-21, 21-12) comeback to win the first top-level tournament title since the two worked together, while the two reached the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time.

At the end of 2017, Fuguang was selected as the “WBF Progressive Athlete of the Year”.

In April 2018, Fukuhiro won their first ever title at the Badminton Asia Championships, defeating Misaki Matsutomo/Reika Takahashi in the final.

In May 2018, Yuki Fukushima/Saika Hirota represented the Japanese badminton team at the Uber Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, and won their first World Championship title by defeating the Thai duo of Jongkorn Phan/Rawinda 21-18,21-12 in the final as the No. 1 women’s doubles.

In June 2018, in the latest world women’s doubles rankings, the Fukuhiro duo became the second Japanese women’s doubles pairing to be ranked No. 1 on the list.

In July 2021 the Fukuhiro duo advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics women’s doubles badminton tournament by finishing second in Group A. They were defeated by the Chinese duo Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan in the quarterfinals of the eight-team tournament, stopping in the last eight, 1-2 (21-18, 10-21, 10-21). She underwent surgery immediately after the Olympics and her recovery time is expected to be six months.

World Ranking – Women’s Doubles 13, Week 31, 2024

Olympic Points – Women’s Doubles 8, 76325 points

Finals Ranking – Women’s Doubles 45, 15820 points

Equipment Used

ASTROX 88D PRO; DUORA Z-STRIKE; BG-80; 75TH 65Z2; ASTROX 88D; NANOGY 95; NANORAY Z; SPEED yellow; SHB65Z2MEX; SHB65Z3MEX; ASTROX 88D Beige/Red