Ayane Kurihara
Character Introduction
Ayane Kurihara(くりはら あやね, September 27, 1989) is a Japanese female badminton player and a former member of the Japan national badminton team (Team A).She retired from the sport at the end of 2019.
In June 2010, Kurihara Ayane appeared in the Russian Badminton Grand Prix, winning her first international singles title by defeating the tournament’s top seed and host, Ayla Dill, 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) in the women’s singles final.
In March 2011, Kurihara Bunyon played in the Badminton Golden Grand Prix in Germany and won the runner-up spot in the women’s singles final, defeating the tournament’s fifth seed, Liu Xin of China, 1-2 (13-21, 21-15, 9-21).
In November 2014, she played in the Malaysia Badminton International Challenge with Naryu Shinoa and won her first international doubles title by defeating the tournament’s No. 2 seed and Indonesian powerhouse Mareta Deya Giovanni/Rosilta Ika Putri Sari 2-0 (21-14, 21-17) in the women’s doubles final.
In August 2016, she represented Japan in the mixed doubles event at the Olympic Games badminton tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, playing as the 14th seed with Kenta Kurihara. In the quarterfinals, Bunny Kuribun and Kenta Souno faced Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei of China and were defeated 0-2 (14-21, 12-21).
In July 2018, Bunny Kurihara switched to playing with Fair Gondo in the Akita Badminton Masters, winning her first Super 100 doubles title by defeating Indonesian powerhouse Alfran Eko Prasetya/Anyanlika Wiradama 2-1 (21-9, 21-23, 21-17) in the mixed doubles final.
Bunny Kuribara announced her retirement at the end of 2019 and is expected to take up a general staff position at Unisys Japan every other April.
Equipment Used
ARCSABER 11 Metallic Red; ARCSABER 11; ASTROX 88S; AEROBITE; ASTROX 88S PRO; NANOFLARE 700; ASTROX 77; VOLTRIC Z-FORCE; SHB65ZMEX Momota; WAVE FANG SS
Major Achievements
- 2019 Badminton Asia Championships Mixed Team Runner-Up
- 2018 USA Badminton International Challenge Mixed Doubles Champion
- 2018 Indonesia Badminton International Challenge Mixed Doubles Champion
- 2018 Chinese Taipei Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Runner-up
- 2018 Spain Badminton Masters Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals
- 2018 Vietnam Badminton Open Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals
- 2018 Akita Badminton Masters Mixed Doubles Champion, Japan
- 2017 Sudirman Cup Mixed Team 3rd Runner-up
- 2017 Badminton Asia Championships Mixed Team Champion
- 2016 Badminton India Golden Grand Prix Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals
- 2015 USA Badminton Golden Grand Prix Women’s Doubles Runner-up
- 2015 Sudirman Cup Runner-up
- 2015 Swiss Badminton Golden Grand Prix Women’s Doubles Runner-up
- 2015 Portugal Badminton International Women’s Doubles Champion
- 2015 China Badminton International Challenge Women’s Doubles Runner-up
- 2014 Malaysia Badminton International Challenge Women’s Doubles Champion
- 2014 Russia Badminton Grand Prix Women’s Doubles Final Four
- 2014 China Badminton Masters Women’s Doubles Final Four
- 2014 Osaka Badminton International Challenge Women’s Doubles Quarter-finals
- 2014 Poland Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Runner-up
- 2011 German Badminton Grand Prix Women’s Singles Runner-up
- 2010 Malaysia Badminton International Challenge Women’s Doubles Final Four
- 2010 Malaysia Badminton International Challenge Women’s Singles Champion
- 2010 Russian Badminton Grand Prix Women’s Doubles Final Four
- 2010 Russian Badminton Grand Prix Women’s Singles Champion
- 2009 Bitburger Badminton Grand Prix Women’s Doubles Final Four