Hiroki Midorikawa
Midorikawa at the 2025 Taipei Open | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 17 May 2000 Saitama Prefecture, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 56 kg (123 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Badminton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Norio Imai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's & mixed doubles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | 7 (XD with Natsu Saito, 21 October 2025) 17 (MD with Kyohei Yamashita, 20 March 2026) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current ranking | 146 (XD with Nami Matsuyama) (17 March 2026) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BWF profile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Hiroki Midorikawa (緑川 大輝, Midorikawa Hiroki; born 17 May 2000) is a Japanese badminton player who competes in doubles. He plays for the NTT East team and is a member of the Japanese national team.[1] He primarily competes in mixed doubles with Natsu Saito, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 7. The pair won two World Tour Super 500 titles – the 2023 Canada Open and the 2025 Indonesia Masters – and were silver medalists at the 2025 Asian Championships.[2][3][4] In men's doubles, he partners with Kyohei Yamashita, achieving a career-high world ranking of 17.
Early life
Born on 17 May 2000 in Saitama Prefecture, Midorikawa began playing badminton at the age of seven, influenced by his parents and older sister. He attended Saitama Sakae Junior and Senior High School.[5] During junior high, he won the team competition and was a runner-up in singles at the National Junior High School Tournament. In 2017, he won the doubles title at the All Japan Junior Championships.[6] In his second year of high school, he formed a mixed doubles partnership with his classmate Natsu Saito.[7] He later studied sports science at Waseda University from 2019 to 2023.[8]
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 views his relatively short stature as an advantage, believing his high energy and mobility help overcome limitations sometimes associated with shorter players, contrasting the common view that taller players have a natural advantage.[6]
Career
2023: Professional debut and first World Tour title
In April 2023, Midorikawa joined the NTT East team following his graduation from Waseda University. That year, he and mixed doubles partner, Natsu Saito, were promoted to the Japanese A national team under coach Jeremy Gan. The pair won their first World Tour Super 500 title at the Canada Open, defeating Mathias Thyrri and Amalie Magelund in the final.[2] They also finished as runners-up at the Australian Open and reached the semifinals of the Hong Kong and the Arctic Opens.[9]
In men's doubles, Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita won the Osaka International title.[10]
2024: Indonesia Masters runner up
In mixed doubles, Midorikawa and Saito finished as runners-up at the Indonesia Masters, losing to the top seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong.[11] They qualified for the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals but were eliminated in the group stage.
In men's doubles, Midorikawa and Yamashita returned to international competition in August, winning consecutive titles at the Sydney International and the North Harbour International.[12][13] Domestically, the pair won all three of Japan's major national tournaments: the Japan Ranking Circuit, the All Japan Members Championships, and the All Japan Championships.[14][15][16]
2025: Second Super 500 title, Asian Championships silver
In 2025, Midorikawa was selected for the Japanese national team in both mixed and men's doubles. He contributed to the Japanese squads that earned bronze medals at the Asia Mixed Team Championships and at the Sudirman Cup.[17][18]
In mixed doubles, he and Saito won the Indonesia Masters in January and secured a silver medal at the Asian Championships.[19][4] The pair reached the semifinals of the Denmark Open and the quarterfinals of the World Championships.[20] They achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 7 in October. They concluded their season and ended their partnership at the BWF World Tour Finals in December, where they advanced to the semifinals.[21][22]
In men's doubles, Midorikawa and Yamashita reached the semifinals of the Swiss Open in March and the Taipei Open in May.[23][24] They achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 25 in September. The pair concluded the season with a runner-up finish at the Super 500 Japan Masters in November, losing to Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae.[25]
Personal life
Midorikawa married on 2 February 2025.[26]
Achievements
Asian Championships
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Ningbo, China |
Natsu Saito | Tang Chun Man Tse Ying Suet |
15–21, 21–17, 13–21 | Silver | [4] |
BWF World Tour (2 titles, 5 runners-up)
The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[27] 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.[28]
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Japan Masters | Super 500 | Kyohei Yamashita | Kim Won-ho Seo Seung-jae |
22–20, 11–21, 16–21 | Runner-up | [25] |
| 2026 | India Open | Super 750 | Kyohei Yamashita | Liang Weikeng Wang Chang |
21–17, 23–25, 16–21 | Runner-up | [29] |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Canada Open | Super 100 | Natsu Saito | Ye Hong-wei Lee Chia-hsin |
21–12, 12–21, 15–21 | Runner-up | [30] |
| 2023 | Canada Open | Super 500 | Natsu Saito | Mathias Thyrri Amalie Magelund |
21–17, 16–21, 21–13 | Winner | [2] |
| 2023 | Australian Open | Super 500 | Natsu Saito | Feng Yanzhe Huang Dongping |
14–21, 21–16, 15–21 | Runner-up | [9] |
| 2024 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | Natsu Saito | Zheng Siwei Huang Yaqiong |
15–21, 16–21 | Runner-up | [11] |
| 2025 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | Natsu Saito | Guo Xinwa Chen Fanghui |
21–15, 21–17 | Winner | [3] |
BWF International Challenge/Series (8 titles)
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Malaysia International | Kyohei Yamashita | Liang Weikeng Shang Yichen |
18–21, 21–10, 21–16 | Winner | [31] |
| 2023 | Osaka International | Kyohei Yamashita | Wei Chun-wei Wu Guan-xun |
21–14, 21–14 | Winner | [10] |
| 2024 | Sydney International | Kyohei Yamashita | Lai Po-yu Tsai Fu-cheng |
21–14, 21–16 | Winner | [12] |
| 2024 | North Harbour International | Kyohei Yamashita | Lai Po-yu Tsai Fu-cheng |
16–21, 21–14, 21–14 | Winner | [13] |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Waikato International | Natsu Saito | Simon Leung Gronya Somerville |
21–15, 21–13 | Winner | [32] |
| 2019 | Vietnam International | Natsu Saito | Vichayapong Kanjanakeereewong Ruethaichanok Laisuan |
21–16, 21–8 | Winner | [33] |
| 2021 | Belgian International | Natsu Saito | Jesper Toft Clara Graversen |
21–18, 21–9 | Winner | [34][35] |
| 2022 | Belgian International | Natsu Saito | Chiu Hsiang-chieh Lin Xiao-min |
21–13, 21–17 | Winner | [36] |
- BWF International Challenge tournament
- BWF International Series tournament
BWF Junior International (1 title, 2 runners-up)
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Dutch Junior | Natsu Saito | Guo Xinwa Liu Xuanxuan |
21–16, 18–21, 19–21 | Runner-up | [37] |
| 2018 | German Junior | Natsu Saito | Wang Chan Jeong Na-eun |
19–21, 21–18, 21–17 | Winner | [38] |
| 2018 | Banthongyord Junior International | Natsu Saito | Kunlavut Vitidsarn Lalinrat Chaiwan |
21–23, 18–21 | Runner-up | [39] |
- BWF Junior International Grand Prix tournament
- BWF Junior International Challenge tournament
Record against selected opponents
Record against year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists. Accurate as of 24 December 2025.[40]
Natsu Saito
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References
- ^ "Players: Hiroki Midorikawa". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ a b c "Winners crowned at Calgary-hosted Yonex Canada Open badminton event". Calgary Sun. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ a b Setiawan, Didik (26 January 2025). "Ganda Campuran Jepang Hiroki Midorikawa/Natsu Saito Juara Indonesia Masters 2025". Merah Putih (in Indonesian). Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Historic Gold for Hong Kong China in Mixed Doubles". Badminton Asia. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Hiroki Midorikawa Profile" (in Japanese). J Sports. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "[Series] "Reiwa 4 Graduation Memorial Special" No. 38 Hiroki Midorikawa / Badminton" (in Japanese). Waseda Sports. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Australian Open: Beiwen Snaps Blip on Surgery Anniversary". Badminton World Federation. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b "[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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b "Roketto Sydney International Finals Recap". Badminton Oceania. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "MAXX North Harbour International Finals Wrap". Badminton Oceania. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "[Japan Ranking Circuit 2024] Men's Doubles Champions: Yamashita & Midorikawa! Otake & Takahashi Win Women's Doubles for the Second Time! <Finals Results / Doubles>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "[All-Japan Members Championships 2024] Koga & Fukushima Win Their First Mixed Doubles Title! Yamashita & Midorikawa, Nakanishi & Iwanaga Also Crowned the Champions! <Doubles Results>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "[All Japan Badminton Championships 2024] Kyohei Yamashita & Hiroki Midorikawa Win the Fiercely Contested Men's Doubles! Secure Their First Victory in the Event! <Finals / Men's Doubles Results>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "China Charges into BAMTC 2025 Finals After Epic Showdown Against Japan". Badminton Asia. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Defending champions China power past Japan to reach Sudirman Cup final". nst.com.my. New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ "[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.
- ^ "Badminton Denmark Open 2025: Live Updates, Japanese Team Results, and Summary". International Olympic Committee (in Japanese). 14 October 2025. Archived from the original on 24 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ "[Badminton] Nami Matsuyama forms mixed doubles pair with Hiroki Midorikawa: 'I will express the joy of being on the court through my play". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 5 November 2025. Archived from the original on 15 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ^ Fentuo, Fentuo Tahiru (20 December 2025). "BWF World Tour Finals 2025: Christo Popov reaches historic final; An Seyoung to face Wang Zhiyi for women's singles title". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 20 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "Sze Fei-Izzuddin lead men's doubles exodus at Swiss Open". New Straits Times. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Liew, Vincent (22 March 2025). "Chen Yufei, Christo Popov Advance to 2025 Swiss Open Final". BadmintonPlanet.com. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "Kumamoto Masters: Kim/Seo Equal 37-Year Record". Badminton World Federation. 16 November 2025. Archived from the original on 17 November 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "India Open 2026 badminton: Olympic champion An Se-young defends title; Lin Chun-yi clinches maiden Super 750 crown". International Olympic Committee. 18 January 2026. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Taiwanese duo Ye, Lee claim Canada Open title". The Taipei Times. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "マレーシアインターナショナルチャレンジ2019" (in Japanese). Nippon Badminton Association. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Meet the winners from the YONEX Waikato International 2019". Badminton Oceania. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Hoàng, Việt (14 April 2019). "Kết thúc giải cầu lông Ciputra Hanoi 2019: Indonesia, Nhật Bản thắng lớn" (in Vietnamese). Thể Thao. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ "[Belgian International] Riko Gunji wins the women's singles! Japan B Team wins in three events! <Results of the Japanese athletes>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
- ^ "[Belgian International 2021] Pramudya/Yeremia Win Champion Title" (in Indonesian). PB Djarum. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
- ^ Martinez, Sara Gonzalez (19 September 2022). "YONEX Belgian International 2022: Asia wins all the titles". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Tomokane, Yukio (5 March 2018). "Dutch Junior Championships 2018 | Reports". Nippon Badminton Association (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ "YONEX German Junior: The Winners". German Badminton Association (in German). 14 March 2018. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ Tomokane, Yukio (30 April 2018). "ROZA BTY Junior International Challenge 2018 | Results". Nippon Badminton Association (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ "Hiroki MIDORIKAWA – Head To Head". Badminton World Federations. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
External links
- Hiroki Midorikawa at BWFBadminton.com
- Hiroki Midorikawa at BWF.TournamentSoftware.com (archived)
- Hiroki Midorikawa at InterSportStats
- Hiroki Midorikawa at Badminton Association of Japan (in Japanese)
- Hiroki Midorikawa at NTT East (in Japanese)