Akane Yamaguchi Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics

Akane Yamaguchi is a Japanese professional badminton player who reached the world number 1 ranking in the official BWF (Badminton World Federation) singles rankings for the first time in April 2018. As of May 2022, she was still ranked number 1 in the world. On the BWF World Tour, a series of elite badminton tournaments announced in March 2017 and implemented in 2018, as of July 2022, she had won 9 titles – the 2019 Indonesia Open (Super 1000), the 2021 Denmark Open (Super 1000), the 2022 All England Open (Super 1000), the 2018 French Open (Super 750), the 2019 Japan Open (Super 750), the 2021 French Open (Super 750), the 2018 German Open (Super 300), the 2019 German Open (Super 300), and the 2020 Thailand Masters (Super 300). She also finished as the runner-up at the 2018 All England Open (Super 1000), the 2019 Malaysia Open (Super 750), and the 2021 Indonesia Masters (Super 750). On the BWF Superseries Tour, a series of elite badminton tournaments launched in December 2006 and implemented in 2007, as of July 2022, she had won 5 titles – the 2017 Dubai World Super Series Finals, the 2017 China Open, the 2016 Denmark Open, the 2016 Korea Open, and the 2013 Japan Open. She also finished as the runner-up at the 2017 Denmark Open, the 2014 China Open, the 2017 French Open, the 2017 Australian Open, and the 2015 Japan Open.

Born Name

Akane Yamaguchi

Nick Name

Akane

Sun Sign

Gemini

Born Place

Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan

Residence

Japan

Nationality

Education

Akane had attended the Fukushima Kenritsu Tomiokakoto School in Futaba District, Fukushima, Japan.

Occupation

Professional Badminton Player

Handedness

Right

Build

Athletic

Height

5 ft 1 in or 155 cm

Weight

55 kg or 121 lbs

Race / Ethnicity

Asian

She is of Japanese descent.

Hair Color

Black

Eye Color

Dark Brown

Sexual Orientation

Straight

Distinctive Features

• Toned physique
• Side-parted, neck-length hair
• Cheerful smile
• Radiant face

Brand Endorsements

She has been sponsored by Yonex Co., Ltd., a Japanese sports equipment manufacturing company.

Akane Yamaguchi Facts

1. Akane first came into the spotlight when she won the ‘Gold’ medal in the mixed team event and the ‘Bronze’ medal in the girls’ singles event at the 2012 Gimcheon Badminton Asia Junior Championships.
2. At the 2013 (Kota Kinabalu) edition of the event, she secured the ‘Bronze’ medal in the mixed team competition. At the 2014 (Taipei) edition of the event, she won the ‘Gold’ medal in the girls’ singles competition and the ‘Bronze’ medal in the mixed team competition.
3. At the BWF World Junior Championships, in the girls’ singles event, she won the ‘Gold’ medal in 2013 (Bangkok) and 2014 (Alor Setar), as well as a ‘Silver’ medal in 2012 (Chiba). In the mixed team event, she secured the ‘Silver’ medal in 2012 (Chiba) and the ‘Bronze’ medal in 2014 (Alor Setar).
4. At the 2013 Japanese Open, where she was unseeded, she defeated compatriot Shizuka Uchida in the final to become the then youngest player to win a BWF Superseries tournament. This was also Japan’s first victory at the home event since 1981.
5. The same year, at the Nanjing Asian Youth Games, she won the ‘Gold’ medal in the mixed doubles event.
6. On the BWF International Challenge/Series, as of July 2022, she had finished as the runner-up once – the 2013 Osaka International.
7. At the 2013 Tianjin East Asian Games, she won the ‘Bronze’ medal both in the women’s singles and the women’s team events.
8. In August 2014, she was the flag-bearer for the Japanese team at the opening ceremony of the Summer Youth Olympics. She was the number one seed in the girl’s singles event there and ended up winning the ‘Silver’ medal.
9. On the BWF Grand Prix Tour, a series of badminton tournaments held from 2007 to 2017, as of July 2022, she had won 2 titles – the 2015 Bitburger Open and the 2017 German Open. She had also finished as the runner-up at the 2013 New Zealand Open.
10. At the 2018 Jakarta–Palembang Asian Games, she won the ‘Gold’ medal in the women’s team event and the ‘Bronze’ medal in the women’s singles event. She also won the ‘Bronze’ medal in the 2014 (Incheon) edition of the event in the women’s team competition.
11. At the Badminton Asia Team Championships, representing Japan in the women’s team event, she won the ‘Gold’ medal in 2018 (Alor Setar) and 2020 (Manila). At the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships, she won the ‘Gold’ medal in 2017 (Ho Chi Minh).
12. In the prestigious Uber Cup, often referred to as the ‘World Women’s Team Championships’, she won the ‘Gold’ medal in 2018 (Bangkok). She clinched the ‘Silver’ medal in 2014 (New Delhi) and 2020 (Aarhus). She also secured the ‘Bronze’ medal in 2016 (Kunshan) and 2022 (Bangkok). The 2018 title was Japan’s first in 37 years.
13. In the Uber Cup‘s mixed team equivalent, the Sudirman Cup, she clinched the ‘Silver’ medal in 2021 (Vantaa), 2019 (Nanning), and 2015 (Dongguan). She also secured the ‘Bronze’ medal in 2017 (Gold Coast).
14. At the 2019 Badminton Asia Championships held in Wuhan, she became the first Japanese women’s singles player to win the ‘Gold’ medal. At the event, she also secured the ‘Silver’ medal in 2017 (Wuhan), a feat that she would repeat in 2022 (Manila).
15. At the 2021 Huelva BWF World Championships, she became only the second Japanese women’s singles player to win the ‘Gold’ medal. She had previously won the ‘Bronze’ medal at the 2018 (Nanjing) edition of the tournament.

Featured Image by Akane Yamaguchi / Instagram