Ayako Suzuki (鈴木 亜弥子, Suzuki Ayako, born 14 March 1987) is a Japanese former paralympic badminton player.[1][2][3] She participated at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in the badminton competition, being awarded the silver medal in the women's singles SU5 event.[4] Suzuki also participated in the women's doubles SL3–SU5 event, being awarded the bronze medal with her teammate, Noriko Ito.[4]

Ayako Suzuki
鈴木 亜弥子
Personal information
Country Japan
Born (1987-03-14) March 14, 1987 (age 37)
Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Women's singles SU5
Women's doubles SL3–SU5
Highest ranking1 (WS 1 January 2019)
3 (WD with Noriko Ito 29 August 2019)
Medal record
Women's para-badminton
Representing  Japan
Paralympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Women's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo Women's doubles
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Seoul Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 2017 Ulsan Women's singles
Silver medal – second place 2019 Basel Women's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Ulsan Women's doubles
Asian Para Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou Women's singles
Silver medal – second place 2018 Jakarta Women's singles
Asian Championships
Silver medal – second place 2016 Beijing Women's singles

Suzuki announced her retirement from para-badminton on 4 September 2022.[5]

Personal life

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Suzuki was born in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture. She was born with a disability that prevented her right arm from rising above her shoulder. She started playing badminton in third grade and eventually competed in able-bodied competitions.[6]

Achievements

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Paralympic Games

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Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2020 Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan   Yang Qiuxia 17–21, 9–21   Silver

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2020 Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan   Noriko Ito   Lénaïg Morin
  Faustine Noël
21–16, 21–18   Bronze

World Championships

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Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2009 Fencing Hall, Seoul, South Korea   Ma Huihui 21–10, 21–3   Gold
2017 Dongchun Gymnasium, Ulsan, South Korea   Yang Qiuxia 18–21, 21–18, 21–18   Gold
2019 St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland   Yang Qiuxia 21–17, 17–21, 15–21   Silver

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2019 St. Jakobshalle,
Basel, Switzerland
  Noriko Ito   Leani Ratri Oktila
  Khalimatus Sadiyah
15–21, 11–21   Bronze

Asian Para Games

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Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2010[a] Tianhe Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China   Sudsaifon Yodpa 21–6, 21–0   Gold
  Su Kunrong 21–9, 21–5
  Nor Fariha Kamarudin Walkover
  Chen Xinyun 21–11, 21–13
2018[b] Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia   Putu Christiani 21–6, 21–6   Silver
  Warining Rahayu 21–9, 21–10
  Lam Tsz Huen 21–2, 21–8
  Yang Qiuxia 16–21, 16–21

Asian Championships

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Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2016 China Administration of Sport for Persons with Disabilities, Beijing, China   Yang Qiuxia 21–17, 11–21, 9–21   Silver

International Tournaments (16 titles, 7 runners-up)

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Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2016 Irish Para Badminton International   Mamiko Toyoda 21–19, 21–7   Winner
  Julie Thrane 21–14, 21–13
  Abbigale Louize Richards 21–2, 21–3
  Megan Hollander 21–3, 16–2 retired
2016 Indonesia Para Badminton International   Leani Ratri Oktila 21–15, 21–8   Winner
2017 Thailand Para Badminton International   Mamiko Toyoda 21–14, 21–10   Winner
2017 Japan Para Badminton International   Yang Qiuxia 8–21, 21–13, 21–18   Winner
2018 Turkish Para Badminton International   Mamiko Toyoda 21–18, 21–15   Winner
2018 Brazil Para Badminton International   Akiko Sugino 21–13, 21–16   Winner
2018 Japan Para Badminton International   Akiko Sugino 21–15, 21–5   Winner
2018 Australia Para Badminton International   Leani Ratri Oktila 21–17, 21–18   Winner
2019 Dubai Para Badminton International   Yang Qiuxia 18–21, 13–21   Runner-up
2019 Canada Para Badminton International   Cathrine Rosengren 21–14, 21–9   Winner
2019 Irish Para Badminton International   Cathrine Rosengren 21–13, 21–7   Winner
2019 Thailand Para Badminton International   Cathrine Rosengren 21–11, 21–12   Winner
2019 China Para Badminton International   Yang Qiuxia 14–21, 21–19, 19–21   Runner-up
2019 Denmark Para Badminton International   Mamiko Toyoda Walkover   Winner
2019 Japan Para Badminton International   Yang Qiuxia 19–21, 20–22   Runner-up

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2018 Japan Para Badminton International   Asami Yamada   Katrin Seibert
  Chanida Srinavakul
12–21, 21–16, 21–12   Winner
2018 Australia Para Badminton International   Noriko Ito   Leani Ratri Oktila
  Khalimatus Sadiyah
17–21, 8–21   Runner-up
2019 Turkish Para Badminton International   Mio Hayashi   Cheng Hefang
  Ma Huihui
12–21, 21–18, 21–16   Winner
2019 Canada Para Badminton International   Noriko Ito   Leani Ratri Oktila
  Khalimatus Sadiyah
13–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2019 Thailand Para Badminton International   Noriko Ito   Nipada Saensupa
  Chanida Srinavakul
21–15, 21–12   Winner
2019 China Para Badminton International   Noriko Ito   Cheng Hefang
  Ma Huihui
8–21, 7–21   Runner-up
2019 Denmark Para Badminton International   Noriko Ito   Kaede Kameyama
  Asami Yamada
21–11, 21–13   Winner
2019 Japan Para Badminton International   Noriko Ito   Cheng Hefang
  Ma Huihui
13–21, 8–21   Runner-up

References

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  1. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: full medal table". The Guardian. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  2. ^ Palmer, Dan (21 August 2019). "Japan's Tokyo 2020 hope Suzuki among defending champions to start strong at Para Badminton World Championships". Inside the Games. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Japan's Para badminton squad brewing with talent ahead of Tokyo 2020". International Paralympic Committee. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  5. ^ "パラバド鈴木亜弥子「自分的には合格」単複メダル「経験は財産に」引退表明 - バドミントン - 東京2020パラリンピック : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  6. ^ "第1回 パラバドミントンのルールとクラス分け | 二宮清純の視点|障害者スポーツをスポーツとしてとらえるサイト"挑戦者たち" [CHALLENGERS.TV]". www.challengers.tv. Retrieved 2022-11-19.

Notes

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  1. ^ This tournament uses a round robin system.
  2. ^ This tournament uses a round robin system.
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