Minoru Koga

Minoru Koga
Personal information
Born (1996-09-30) 30 September 1996
Fukuoka, Japan
Height1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
CountryJapan
SportBadminton
HandednessLeft
Men's singles
Highest ranking53 (10 March 2026)
Current ranking53 (10 March 2026)
BWF profile
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Japan
Asia Mixed Team Championships
2019 Hong Kong Mixed team
World Junior Championships
2014 Alor Setar Mixed team
Asian Youth Games
2013 Nanjing Mixed doubles
Asian Junior Championships
2014 Taipei Mixed team

Minoru Koga (古賀 穂, Koga Minoru; born 30 September 1996) is a Japanese badminton player who competes in singles.[1] He plays for the AC Nagano Parceiro Badminton Club, having previously played for NTT East.[2] His junior international achievements include a gold medal in mixed doubles at the 2013 Asian Youth Games and bronze medals with the national team at the 2014 Asian and World Junior Championships. While studying at Waseda University, he won the men's singles title at the All Japan Intercollegiate Championships in 2017 and 2018. On the BWF World Tour, his best result was a runner-up finish at the 2018 Canada Open.

Early life and career

Koga was born on 30 September 1996, in Fukuoka, Japan. He began playing badminton at the age of six at the Okagaki Junior club.[3] In 2011, while a second-year student at Tomioka Daiichi Junior High School in Fukushima Prefecture, he evacuated the area following the Great East Japan Earthquake.[4]

At the national level, Koga won the junior singles title across all three major age divisions: the All Japan Elementary School Championships (2008), the All Japan Junior High School Championships (2011), and the National High School Championships (Inter-High) (2014).[5] At the 2014 Inter-High, he defeated Kanta Tsuneyama in the singles final and led Tomioka High School to the team title.[6] On the international junior stage, Koga won a gold medal in mixed doubles at the 2013 Asian Youth Games, partnered with Akane Yamaguchi.[7] He also contributed to the Japanese team winning bronze medals at both the 2014 Asian and World Junior Championships.[8][9]

Koga enrolled at Waseda University in 2015, majoring in sport sciences.[10] He won the men's singles title at the All Japan Intercollegiate Championships in two consecutive years (2017, 2018).[11][12] In his final year, he captained the Waseda team to a national intercollegiate team title.[13]

Career

2018–2024: Six international titles and world top 60

While a student at Waseda University, Koga reached the final of the 2018 Canada Open (Super 100). Despite entering the tournament ranked world No. 396, he reached the final before losing to Lu Guangzu.[14]

Following his graduation, Koga joined the NTT East badminton team on 1 April 2019.[10] He was selected for the Japanese national B team (2018–2022) and was part of the squad that won silver at the 2019 Asia Mixed Team Championships.[10][15]

Koga won his first senior international title at the 2019 Swedish Open, defeating future world champion Loh Kean Yew in the final.[16] Later that year, he reached the semifinals of the 2019 Vietnam Open, a run that included a victory over another future world champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn.[17]

Between 2022 and 2024, Koga won five additional international titles: the 2022 Mexican International, three titles in 2023 (Thailand, Malaysia, and Bahrain), the 2024 Malaysia International.[18][19][20][21] He achieved a career-high world ranking of 56 on 21 March 2023.

Domestically, Koga became a two-time champion of both the All Japan Members Badminton Championships (2019, 2023) and the Japan Ranking Circuit (2021, 2023).[22][23][24]

2025: Club transfer and two titles

On 1 April 2025, Koga transferred to the AC Nagano Parceiro badminton club.[2] That year, he won two titles at the Slovenia Future Series and the Belgian International, and finished as runner-up at the Lagos International.[25][26][27]

2026

Koga began the 2026 season with strong performances on the European circuit. In January, he secured consecutive titles by winning the Estonian International and the Swedish Open. In both finals, he defeated Denmark’s Mads Christophersen.[28][29]

At the German Open (Super 300), Koga advanced through the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw. In the first round, he recorded an upset by defeating the second seed and world No. 6, Li Shifeng, in straight games.[30]

Personal life

His elder brother, Akira Koga, is also a badminton player affiliated with JTEKT Stingers.[3]

Achievements

Asian Youth Games

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
2013 Nanjing Sport Institute,
Nanjing, China 		Akane Yamaguchi Dechapol Puavaranukroh
Puttita Supajirakul 		21–19, 19–21, 21–17 Gold [7]

BWF World Tour (1 runner-up)

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[31] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tours are divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.[32]

Men's singles

Year Tournament Level Opponent Score Result Ref
2018 Canada Open Super 100 Lu Guangzu 15–21, 10–21 Runner-up [14]

BWF International Challenge/Series (10 titles, 3 runners-up)

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result Ref
2019 Slovenian International Sourabh Verma 17–21, 12–21 Runner-up [33]
2019 Lao International Kodai Naraoka 20–22, 20–22 Runner-up [34][35]
2019 Swedish Open Loh Kean Yew 21–11, 21–15 Winner [16]
2022 Mexican International Jonathan Matias 10–21, 22–20, 21–13 Winner [18]
2023 Thailand International Chi Yu-jen 15–21, 21–17, 22–20 Winner [36]
2023 Malaysia International Takuma Kawamoto 21–17, 10–21, 21–11 Winner [19]
2023 Bahrain International Riki Takei 11–21, 21–15, 21–18 Winner [20]
2024 Malaysia International Riku Hatano 21–19, 15–21, 21–11 Winner [21]
2025 Lagos International Prahdiska Bagas Shujiwo 17–21, 18–21 Runner-up [27]
2025 Slovenia Future Series Cholan Kayan 21–17, 24–22 Winner [25]
2025 Belgian International Julien Carraggi 21–14, 22–20 Winner [26][37]
2026 Estonian International Mads Christophersen 21–18, 11–21, 21–12 Winner [28]
2026 Swedish Open Mads Christophersen 21–16, 16–21, 21–18 Winner [29]
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament
  BWF Future Series tournament

Record against selected opponents

Record against Year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists. Accurate as of 15 March 2026.[38]

References

  1. ^ "Minoru KOGA | Profile". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Announcement: Player Minoru Koga to Join AC Nagano Parceiro Badminton Club" (in Japanese). AC Nagano Parceiro. 7 April 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ a b "Minoru Koga | Profile" (in Japanese). Badminton S/J League. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ^ "Minoru Koga | Profile" (in Japanese). AC Nagano Parceiro. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ "Minoru Koga | Profile" (in Japanese). SMASH and NET.TV. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ "Inter-High: Minoru Koga Achieves Double Crown, Akane Yamaguchi Secures Second Consecutive Victory!!" (in Japanese). SMASH and NET.TV. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ a b "Results: 2nd Asian Youth Games" (in Japanese). Nippon Badminton Association. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  8. ^ "News Flash! Final Results of Badminton Asia Youth Championships 2014". Victor Badminton. 19 February 2014. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  9. ^ "2014 World Junior Badminton Championships" (in Japanese). Nippon Badminton Association. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "[Series] "Heisei 30 (2018) Academic Year Graduation Commemorative Special Feature" Part 50: Minoru Koga / Badminton" (in Japanese). Waseda Sports. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ "[Intercollegiate Championships] Waseda University's Minoru Koga Takes the Crown! <Men's Singles>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ "[Intercollegiate Championships] Minoru Koga Wins All-Waseda Final to Secure Second Consecutive Title! <Men's Singles>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ^ "[Intercollegiate Championships] Waseda University Claims Second Consecutive Title with Overwhelming Strength! <Men's Team Event>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ a b Diamond, James (24 June 2018). "Li Xuerui wins BWF Canada Open to continue injury comeback". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  15. ^ Pavitt, Michael (24 March 2019). "China crowned Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships winners after beating holders Japan". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Danny, Tan win mixed doubles title in Sweden". The New Paper. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. ^ Matsuda, Keita (12 September 2019). "Results: Vietnam Open 2019" (in Japanese). Nippon Badminton Association. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  18. ^ a b Fraga, John (16 April 2022). "Jonathan Matias takes second place in the Mexico Challenge" (in Portuguese). Olimpíada Todo Dia. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  19. ^ a b "Japanese Shuttlers Sweep Three Titles At Petronas Malaysia International Badminton Championships". Bernama. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  20. ^ a b Sipra, Adnan (27 November 2023). "Koga rallies to down Takei in thriller for men's singles title". Gulf Daily News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  21. ^ a b "Men's Doubles Pair Miss Out On Title At Petronas Malaysia International Badminton Challenge 2024". Bernama. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  22. ^ "[All Japan Members] Minoru Koga and Natsumi Shimoda are the champions! <Men's and Women's Singles>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  23. ^ "[Badminton] Minoru Koga wins men's singles "I'm relieved," also defeating Takuma Kawamoto, whom he lost to last year <singles results>" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  24. ^ "[Japan Ranking Circuit 2025] Minoru Koga advances to the finals for the third consecutive year in the men's singles! Manami Suizu and Kana Furukawa advance to the finals in the women's singles! <Semi-final results/singles>" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  25. ^ a b Martinez, Sara Gonzalez (8 September 2025). "Ivančič and Polanc defend their title on home soil". Badminton Europe. Archived from the original on 8 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  26. ^ a b "No tournament victory in front of home crowd: Julien Carraggi has to admit superiority to Japanese". Sporza (in Dutch). 13 September 2025. Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Indonesia Dominates as Lagos Int'l Badminton Classics 2025 Ends". This Day. 31 August 2025. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  28. ^ a b "Yonex Estonian International 2026 titles awarded". Estonian Badminton Federation (in Estonian). 11 January 2026. Archived from the original on 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  29. ^ a b Aktor, Lukas (19 January 2026). "Europe claims 2 gold and 1 silver at Swedish Open". Badminton Europe. Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  30. ^ Hansen, Anders (25 February 2026). "Nhat Nguyen Defeats Chou Tien Chen in Germany". Badminton Europe. Archived from the original on 26 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  33. ^ Ratnakar, M (18 May 2019). "Shuttler Sourabh Verma wins Slovenia International title". Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  34. ^ Goto, Ai (24 February 2019). "Result: Laos International Series 2019". Nippon Badminton Association. Archived from the original on 16 January 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  35. ^ "Thailand wins mixed doubles title at Beer Lao tournament" (in Thai). Badminton Thai Today. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  36. ^ "Thailand wins 2 Thailand International Challenge titles" (in Thai). Badminton Thai Today. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  37. ^ "Belgian International Badminton Championships - Julien Carraggi beaten in the final in Leuven". La Libre Belgique (in French). 13 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  38. ^ "Minoru KOGA head to head". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
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