Japan’s 18-year-old badminton star Maya Taguchi competed in both the women’s doubles and mixed doubles events at the 2024 All Japan Corporate Badminton Championships. Taguchi, paired with Akari Sato, advanced to the women’s doubles round of 16. Both players were inspired by the bronze medal-winning women’s doubles pair of Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama at the Paris Olympics, with their sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 18-year-old Maya Taguchi, who stands 165 cm tall, has a sweet appearance, resembling Hanni, a member of the famous South Korean girl group “NewJeans.” She is also highly skilled, having won gold in women’s doubles at the World Junior Championships last year. Since entering senior tournaments, she has teamed up with 23-year-old Akari Sato, with their bond so close it’s as if they are real sisters. Sato describes Taguchi as mischievous and innocent, often absent-minded, and Taguchi admits that she relies on Sato a lot.
Japan’s women’s doubles pair, Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama, won bronze at the Paris Olympics, marking their first time reaching the Olympic podium and securing Japan’s first-ever bronze in women’s doubles at the Olympics. Taguchi and Sato were greatly inspired by this achievement. Sato acknowledges that winning lower-tier tournaments is still difficult for them, but after watching the Olympics, they too aspire to reach the elite level of their predecessors. Taguchi hopes to fully showcase their strengths in future matches, steadily improving and preparing for their dream stage.
In mixed doubles, Japan’s Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino won bronze at the Paris Olympics, claiming their second consecutive Olympic bronze medal. After the Japan Open Super 750 series, Watanabe split with Higashino and formed a new pairing with Maya Taguchi. Competing together for the first time at the All Japan Corporate Badminton Championships, they have also advanced to the mixed doubles round of 16.
