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Japanese hero: AYAKA TAKAHASHI & MISAKI MATSUTOMO called "Japanese Treasure TakaMatsu" pair
It takes more than a gold medal winner strength
About a year ago, we all remember that women's doubles Ayaka Takahashi & Misaki Matsutomo won the first Gold Medal in Japan history at the Olympic Games. We are happy to share that "Japanese Treasure" pair will be joining the DAIHATSU YONEX JAPAN OPEN and compete for the victory.
Ayaka (26 y.o.)and Misaki (24 y.o.) both commented about upcoming DAIHATSU YONEX JAPAN OPEN.
"This is the first tournament we won in Super Series (2014) so there are a lot of memories. I hope we can see the victory as result of winning each game one by one." Ayaka said.
" When I was little, I used to watch the games on TV and thought that in the future I want to be on that stage. Now we want to give such dream and inspiration to children." Misaki commented.
We can feel the positive motivation towards the games from their comments. Now with the Gold Medal, Ayaka and Misaki are continuing their challenge to grow and move forward.
It is the strength of TakaMatsu pair to keep moving forward, despite the fact they have already reached to the peak, the Olympics Gold. Even after the Rio Olympics, pair continued their challenge, winning the Danish Open, the Australian Open. Even in the prestigious Super Series Final, keeping second place and top ranking and continuing to be a dominant force in the game of badminton.
After Olympic game, Ayaka was saying that:
" We won the Olympics but I don't see us as a truly powerful pair. There are some titles such as World Championship which we have not won yet. I think that the true strength can be seen if we keep winning. Olympics Gold is not the final goal and I want to be a player who has the power to continue winning."
And Misaki Matsutomo who is said to be one of the best players in the world who can read movement of Shuttle in front of the net, her curiosity to badminton never runs out. It leads to the positive feeling to be stronger than ever.
"There are lots of things that I still don't know about tactics of badminton game. That is why I want to learn more." Says Misaki.
In other words, " TakaMatsu pair" is seeking "strength" more than "victory" or "gold medasl" so motivation never runs out and keeps them strong.
Changing their position?? Ayaka at the front and Misaki at the Back
More than ever, players all over the world are studying TakaMatsu pair play style to have a chance to defeat them. Therefore, their play style: Misaki making the game and Ayaka finishing may not be the golden winning pattern any more. How will their style be changed from now on? According to Mitsuo Tadokoro who was their teacher from their high school, "Perhaps Ayaka will shoot less but Misaki will finish the game more. Then it will give them more variety of approach to the game. Chinese pair could not win the game at the Rio Olympics but more young pairs will come out from now on. Then, it will be very exciting to see how Takahashi / Matsutomo will stand and evolve.
At DAIHATSU YONEX JAPAN OPEN, it will be interesting to see how Takahashi/Matsutomo will change their play style to challenge to the world. DAIHATSU YONEX JAPAN OPEN is one of the milestones to their goal "the Olympic game succession".
