Hiroki Midorikawa (緑川 大輝, Midorikawa Hiroki, born 17 May 2000) is a Japanese badminton player.[2] He is a member of the Japanese national team and is currently competing in mixed doubles with Natsu Saito and men's doubles with Kyohei Yamashita. Midorikawa has won two mixed doubles Super 500 titles.

Early life

Born in Saitama Prefecture on 17 May 2000, Hiroki Midorikawa began playing badminton at the age of seven, influenced by his parents and older sister. Midorikawa resides in Sayama City and attended Sanno Elementary, followed by Saitama Sakae Junior and Senior High School.[3] In his third year of junior high, he won the team competition and was the runner-up in singles at the National Junior High School Tournament. In 2017, he won the doubles competition at the All Japan Junior Championships.[4]

Midorikawa describes himself as "self-paced and positive." When a shoulder injury prevented him from smashing, instead of being discouraged, he proactively used the opportunity to improve the precision of his drop shots and clears, as well as his footwork. Midorikawa also views his small stature as an advantage, believing that his high energy and greater mobility allow him to overcome any perceived limitations that are typically associated with being a shorter badminton player. This contrasts with the common belief that taller players with longer limbs have a natural advantage in badminton.[4]

Midorikawa's primary focus is mixed doubles, where he partners with Natsu Saito. Saito was his classmate at Saitama Sakae Junior and Senior High School, and they began playing together in their second year of high school.[5]

From 2019 to 2023, Midorikawa studied sports science at Waseda University.[6]

Career

2023: Joins NTT East and wins first Super 500 title

After graduating from university, Midorikawa joined the NTT East badminton team in April 2023. He and Saito were then promoted to the Japanese A national team, which was coached by Jeremy Gan. Midorikawa's first year on the A team was marked by winning his first Super 500 title at the Canada Open against Denmark's Mathias Thyrri and Amalie Magelund. He also finished as a runner-up at the Australian Open, losing to China's Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping, and reached the semifinals of both the Hong Kong Open and the Arctic Open.

2024: Indonesia Masters runner up, All Japan Champion

2025: Indonesia Masters title

Midorikawa was selected for the 2025 Japanese National Team in two events. In mixed doubles, he is partnering with Saito, now coached by Norio Imai following Jeremy Gan's departure to coach the Hong Kong team.[7] In men's doubles he is partnering with Kyohei Yamashita and coached by Lee Wan Wah and Hiroyuki Endo.

In January, Midorikawa and Saito won the Indonesia Masters title by defeating Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui of China in the final.[8] Their path to the victory included defeating second seeds Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai of Malaysia in the quarterfinals[9], followed by Rinov Rivaldy and Lisa Ayu Kusumawati of Indonesia in the semifinals[10].

In February, Midorikawa represented Japan at the 2025 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships. Partnering with Saito in mixed doubles, they won two matches and lost one. In the group stage, they lost a close match to Supak Jomkoh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand despite having two match points.[11] They won against India's Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto in the quarterfinals and China's Gao Jiaxuan and Wu Mengying in the semifinals.[12][13] Ultimately, Japan was defeated 2–3 by China in the semifinals, earning the team a bronze medal.

Personal life

Midorikawa announced his marriage on his X (formerly known as Twitter) on 4 February 2025, stating that he and his long-time partner registered their marriage on 2 February 2025. He also expressed hope for continued support.[14]

Achievements

BWF World Tour (2 titles, 3 runners-up)

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[15] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300, and the BWF Tour Super 100.[16]

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Level Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
2022 Canada Open Super 100 Japan Natsu Saito Chinese Taipei Ye Hong-wei
Chinese Taipei Lee Chia-hsin 		21–12, 12–21, 15–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up [17]
2023 Canada Open Super 500 Japan Natsu Saito Denmark Mathias Thyrri
Denmark Amalie Magelund 		21–17, 16–21, 21–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [18]
2023 Australian Open Super 500 Japan Natsu Saito China Feng Yanzhe
China Huang Dongping 		14–21, 21–16, 15–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up [19]
2024 Indonesia Masters Super 500 Japan Natsu Saito China Zheng Siwei
China Huang Yaqiong 		15–21, 16–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up [20]
2025 Indonesia Masters Super 500 Japan Natsu Saito China Guo Xinwa
China Chen Fanghui 		21–15, 21–17 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [21]

BWF International Challenge/Series (8 titles)

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
2019 Malaysia International Japan Kyohei Yamashita China Liang Weikeng
China Shang Yichen 		18–21, 21–10, 21–16 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [22]
2023 Osaka International Japan Kyohei Yamashita Chinese Taipei Wei Chun-wei
Chinese Taipei Wu Guan-xun 		21–14, 21–14 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [23]
2024 Sydney International Japan Kyohei Yamashita Chinese Taipei Lai Po-yu
Chinese Taipei Tsai Fu-cheng 		21–14, 21–16 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [24]
2024 North Harbour International Japan Kyohei Yamashita Chinese Taipei Lai Po-yu
Chinese Taipei Tsai Fu-cheng 		16–21, 21–14, 21–14 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner [25]

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2019 Waikato International Japan Natsu Saito Australia Simon Leung
Australia Gronya Somerville 		21–15, 21–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2019 Vietnam International Japan Natsu Saito Thailand Vichayapong Kanjanakeereewong
Thailand Ruethaichanok Laisuan 		21–16, 21–8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2021 Belgian International Japan Natsu Saito Denmark Jesper Toft
Denmark Clara Graversen 		21–18, 21–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2022 Belgian International Japan Natsu Saito Chinese Taipei Chiu Hsiang-chieh
Chinese Taipei Lin Xiao-min 		21–13, 21–17 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament

References

  1. ^ "Announcement of the 2025 Japan National Team Players and Staff" (PDF) (in Japanese). Nippon Badminton Association. 21 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Players: Hiroki Midorikawa". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Midorikawa (from Saitama Sakae High School) reports on his victory in the All Japan Badminton Championships" (in Japanese). The Saitama Shimbun. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Growing with the determination not to give up Hiroki Midorikawa wins three inter-high school championships in badminton" (in Japanese). The Koukousei Shimbun. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  5. ^ "Hiroki Midorikawa Profile" (in Japanese). J Sports. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  6. ^ "[Series] "Reiwa 4 Graduation Memorial Special" No. 38 Hiroki Midorikawa / Badminton" (in Japanese). Waseda Sports. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  7. ^ Rajes, Paul (20 December 2024). "Choong Hann announces Bin Shen, Jeremy and Wei Sheng in HK coaching team". The Star. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  8. ^ "[indonesia Masters 2025] Mixed Doubles Players Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito Defeat the Chinese Pair to Reach the Top! First Victory in a Long Time at a Top Tour Tournament! <final Results>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Malaysia's Top Two Mixed Doubles Pairs Bow Out of Indonesia Masters Quarter-finals". Malay Mail. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  10. ^ Baskoro, Bayu (25 January 2025). "Indonesia Masters 2025: Rinov/Lisa lose in semifinals" (in Indonesian). detik.com. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  11. ^ "[Asia Mixed Team 2025] Japan Comes From Behind to Beat Thailand 3-2! Leads the League and Advances to the Final Tournament! <day 3/qualifying League 3rd Match>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Thailand, Japan Storm into Semifinals". Badminton Asia. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  13. ^ "China Charges into BAMTC 2025 Finals After Epic Showdown Against Japan". Badminton Asia. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  14. ^ "Hiroki Midorikawa, a member of the Japanese mixed doubles badminton team, got married "on 2 February, to someone he had been dating for a long time"" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  15. ^ Alleyne, Gayle (19 March 2017). "BWF Launches New Events Structure". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  16. ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Taiwanese duo Ye, Lee claim Canada Open title". The Taipei Times. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Winners crowned at Calgary-hosted YONEX Canada Open badminton event". Calgary Sun. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  19. ^ "[Saitho Group Australian Open 2023] Amerika Juara, China dan Korea Berbagi Gelar" (in Indonesian). Djarum Badminton. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  20. ^ Widiastuti, Rina (28 January 2024). "Hasil Final Indonesia Masters 2024: Wang Zhi Yi Juara, Cina Sabet Tiga Gelar" (in Indonesian). Tempo Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  21. ^ Setiawan, Didik (26 January 2025). "Ganda Campuran Jepang Hiroki Midorikawa/Natsu Saito Juara Indonesia Masters 2025". merahputih.com (in Indonesian). Merah Putih.com. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  22. ^ "[Malaysia International Challenge 2019] Agatha/Yulfira Raih Runner Up" (in Indonesian). Djarum Badminton. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  23. ^ "[大阪国際2023] 日本勢が大活躍！田中湧士、齋藤栞、山下＆緑川が優勝！＜決勝戦結果＞" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Roketto Sydney International Finals Recap". Badminton Oceania. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  25. ^ "MAXX North Harbour International Finals Wrap". Badminton Oceania. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroki_Midorikawa
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