Sayaka Hobara
Hobara at the 2025 Taipei Open | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 30 July 1998 Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Badminton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Left | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Norio Imai | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Women's & mixed doubles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | 14 (WD with Rui Hirokami, 17 March 2026) 17 (XD with Yuichi Shimogami, 20 January 2026) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current ranking | 14 (WD with Rui Hirokami) 17 (XD with Yuichi Shimogami) (17 March 2026) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BWF profile | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Sayaka Hobara (保原 彩夏, Hobara Sayaka; born 30 July 1998) is a Japanese badminton player.[1][2] A left-handed player from Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, she is a former World Junior Champion, winning the girls' doubles title in 2016 with Nami Matsuyama.[3] She competes in both women's and mixed doubles, achieving career-high world rankings of No. 14 in women's doubles and No. 17 in mixed doubles. Hobara was a member of the Japanese team that won the bronze medal at the 2025 Sudirman Cup.
Career
2022
In 2022, Hobara partnered with Hinata Suzuki in women's doubles. On the BWF World Tour, their best result was a semifinal finish at the Taipei Open. They also reached the quarterfinals at the Super 500 Singapore Open and at two Super 100 events: the Canada Open and the Indonesia Masters. At the International Challenge level, they finished as runners-up at the Indonesia International.[4]
2023
In 2023, Hobara partnered with Yui Suizu in women's doubles. They won the Mexican International and finished as runners-up at both the Saipan International and the Indonesia International.[5][6][7] On the World Tour, their best results were semifinal finishes at the Korea Masters and the Indonesia Masters II. The pair achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 39 on 21 November 2023.
2024
In 2024, Hobara focused exclusively on mixed doubles, partnering with Yuichi Shimogami. On the World Tour, the pair finished as runner-up at the Malaysia Super 100 and had semifinal finishes at the Ruichang China Masters and the Vietnam Open.[8] At the International Challenge level, they won the Northern Marianas Open and finished as runners-up at the Saipan International.[9][10]
2025
In 2025, Hobara began a new women's doubles partnership with Rui Hirokami. The pair reached the semifinals at three World Tour Super 500 tournaments: the Taipei Open, the Thailand Open, and the Hong Kong Open.[11][12][13] At the Thailand Open, they were the first qualifying doubles pair in any discipline to reach the semifinals since 2013.[14] En route to the Hong Kong Open semifinals, they upset the newly crowned world champions Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning.[13]
Continuing her mixed doubles partnership with Yuichi Shimogami, Hobara reached the semifinals at the Taipei Open and the quarterfinals at the Singapore Open and Japan Open.[15][16] In this discipline, she made her debuts at both the World and Asian Championships and was a member of the Japanese team that won a bronze medal at the Sudirman Cup.[17] The pair achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 20 on 29 July.
Achievements
World Junior Championships
Girls' doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Bilbao Arena, Bilbao, Spain | Nami Matsuyama | Du Yue Xu Ya |
25–23, 19–21, 21–14 | Gold | [18] |
BWF World Tour (1 runner-up)
The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[19] 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, and the BWF Tour Super 100.[20]
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Malaysia Super 100 | Super 100 | Yuichi Shimogami | Ye Hong-wei Nicole Gonzales Chan |
19–21, 21–12, 20–22 | Runner-up | [8] |
BWF International Challenge/Series (5 titles, 5 runners-up)
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Austrian International | Natsuki Sone | Chisato Hoshi Kie Nakanishi |
15–21, 18–21 | Runner-up | [21] |
| 2019 | Osaka International | Natsuki Sone | Rira Kawashima Saori Ozaki |
14–21, 21–10, 21–16 | Winner | [22] |
| 2019 | Maldives International | Natsuki Sone | Ashwini Ponnappa N. Sikki Reddy |
21–10, 17–21, 21–12 | Winner | [23][24] |
| 2020 | Jamaica International | Rena Miyaura | Daniela Macías Dánica Nishimura |
21–3, 21–7 | Winner | [25] |
| 2022 (II) | Indonesia International | Hinata Suzuki | Lanny Tria Mayasari Ribka Sugiarto |
16–21, 18–21 | Runner-up | [4] |
| 2023 | Mexican International | Yui Suizu | Francesca Corbett Allison Lee |
21–11, 23–21 | Winner | [5] |
| 2023 | Saipan International | Yui Suizu | Hsu Ya-ching Lin Wan-ching |
10–21, 18–21 | Runner-up | [6] |
| 2023 (II) | Indonesia International | Yui Suizu | Laksika Kanlaha Phataimas Muenwong |
18–21, 18–21 | Runner-up | [7] |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Northern Marianas Open | Yuichi Shimogami | Tori Aizawa Hina Osawa |
21–19, 21–12 | Winner | [9][26] |
| 2024 | Saipan International | Yuichi Shimogami | Hiroki Nishi Akari Sato |
11–21, 10–21 | Runner-up | [10][27] |
- BWF International Challenge tournament
- BWF International Series tournament
BWF Junior International (3 titles, 2 runners-up)
Girls' doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Dutch Junior | Nami Matsuyama | Kim Ga-eun Kim Hyang-im |
21–14, 22–20 | Winner | [28] |
| 2016 | German Junior | Nami Matsuyama | Kim Ga-eun Kim Hyang-im |
21–17, 21–13 | Winner | [29] |
| 2016 | India Junior International | Nami Matsuyama | Tew Jia Jia Yee Yap |
11–2, 11–8, 11–5 | Winner |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Dutch Junior | Naoki Yamazawa | Hiroki Okamura Nami Matsuyama |
16–21, 19–21 | Runner-up | [28] |
| 2016 | German Junior | Hiroki Okamura | Naoki Yamazawa Nami Matsuyama |
22–20, 14–21, 11–21 | Runner-up | [29] |
- BWF Junior International Grand Prix tournament
References
- ^ "Players: Sayaka Hobara". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Sayaka Hobara biography". BWF-Tournament Software. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Sayaka Hobara/Nami Matsuyama spoil China's clean sweep at World Junior Championships". Badminton Planet. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Ribka / Lanny won the women's doubles title at the 2022 Indonesia International Challenge" (in Indonesian). Tempo. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "Champions in Mexico – Pan Am Circuit 2023". Badminton Pan America. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "TAKECARE Saipan International Finals Deliver". Badminton Oceania. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "Indonesia International Challenge 2023 - Women's Doubles Title Belongs to Thailand" (in Indonesian). Djarum Badminton. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b ""Malaysia Super 100" thrillingly blocked the opponent's counterattack, Ye Hong-wei/Nicole Gonzales Chan won the first championship together" (in Chinese). Liberty Times. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Big wins for Japan: Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024 - Final Day Summary". Badminton Oceania. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Thrilling Conclusion: Champions Crowned at DOVE Saipan International 2024 Finals". Badminton Oceania. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ^ Kumar, Prem (11 May 2025). "Taipei Open: Home Glory After 17 Years, Loh Returns to Podium Top". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Liew, Stanley (17 May 2025). "Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan One Step Away from First Title of 2025 at Thailand Open". BadmintonPlanet.com. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "[Hong Kong Open 2025] Three women's doubles pairs, including Igarashi & Shida, make it to the quarterfinals! Hobara & Hirokami score a major upset against the world champion! <Day 3 Results>". Badminton Spirit (in Japanese). 12 September 2025. Archived from the original on 13 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Kumar, Prem (17 May 2025). "Thailand Open: Hirokami/hobara on a Roll". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Taipei Open 2025 - Dejan/Fadia Eye Second Final" (in Indonesian). Djarum Badminton. 10 May 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "[Badminton Asia Championships 2025] Rinov/Pitha and Jafar/Felisha Step into Quarterfinals" (in Indonesian). Djarum Badminton Club. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Denmark reach Sudirman Cup quarters". Reuters. 29 April 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Matsuyama and Hobara win Badminton World Junior Championships" (in Japanese). The Nikkei. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ 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.
- ^ "Qualifier Madsen wins Austrian Open 2018" (in German). Austria Badminton Association. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "[Osaka International Challenge] Japanese athletes win in three events! Watanabe, Kawakami, Hobara and Sone become champions!" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Kaushal Dharmamer wins Maldives International Challenge". Times of India. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Hirata, Noriyasu. "Results: Maldives International Challenge 2019" (in Japanese). Nippon Badminton Association. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ Richards, Dwayne (10 March 2020). "Ricketts, Wilson secure second silver to close Jamaica International Badminton tournament". Daily Observer. Archived from the original on 17 May 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ Gases, Leigh (9 July 2024). "Japan duos sweep doubles finals in Crowne Plaza Open". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ^ Gases, Leigh (17 July 2024). "Another sweep for Japan in doubles finals". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 20 February 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ^ a b Myojin, Kenichi (7 March 2016). "Dutch Junior Championships 2016 | Reports". Nippon Badminton Association (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ a b Myojin, Kenichi (16 March 2016). "German Junior Championships 2016 | Reports". Nippon Badminton Association (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.
External links
- Sayaka Hobara at BWFBadminton.com
- Sayaka Hobara at BWF.TournamentSoftware.com (archived)
- Sayaka Hobara at BWFWorldTourFinals.BWFBadminton.com
- Sayaka Hobara at Badminton Association of Japan (in Japanese)
- Sayaka Hobara at J Sports (in Japanese)
- Sayaka Hobara at Smash and Net TV (in Japanese)