Matsutomo and Takahashi new World #1

Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi (pictured) are the latest shuttlers to achieve the prestigious World #1 spot in the rankings published by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Photo: Badmintonphoto

A quarter-final finish at the Yonex French Open Superseries event on Sunday was enough to push the Japanese pair ahead of China’s Bao Yixin and Tang Jinhua, whose point total slipped when their 2013 win in Paris was taken off the books.  The previous weekend, in Denmark, the Japanese pair reached their 4th final of the year at the Superseries level, at which they recorded the first win of their career at the Japan Open in June.

This is the third time this year that the world #1 club has welcomed new members.  The first came when Bao and Tang reached the top of the table early this summer.  Next was Yoo Yeon Seong, who in August became the fourth player to partner Lee Yong Dae to the #1 spot. The movement to the top of Matsutomo and Takahashi marks one of the very rare occasions that the top women’s doubles spot has been held by a non-Chinese pair.  They are in select company along with pairs such as Malaysia’s Chin Eei Hui / Wong Pei Tty, who were #1 in 2009, and Chinese Taipei pair Cheng Wen Hsing / Chien Yu Chin, who topped the rankings in late 2010.