Koki Watanabe

Koki Watanabe (渡邊 航貴, Watanabe Köki, born 29 January 1999) is a professional badminton player from Japan. He graduated from Saitama Sakae High School and has been a member of the BIPROGY team since 2017. Watanabe clinched his first international title at the 2018 Yonex / K&D Graphics International tournament.

Koki Watanabe
Photo: BWF
Country Japan
Date of Birth 29 January 1999
Place of Birth Koshigaya, Saitama, Japan
Height 1.66 m
Handedness Right
Current Ranking 12 (28 January 2025)
Main Sponsor Yonex
Instagram @watakou0123

Career

Watanabe began his badminton journey at the age of four, inspired by his sister. He joined a badminton club in kindergarten and continued to excel, winning the Saitama school championships for three consecutive years during elementary school. He attended Saitamasakaechugakko Koto school, where he secured the singles title at the national junior championships and placed third in the doubles event. Watanabe was a key member of the national junior team, competing in the 2015 and 2016 Asia and World Junior Championships. He won a bronze medal in the boys’ singles at the 2015 World Junior Championships and contributed to the team’s bronze medals in the 2015 and 2016 Asian Junior Championships, as well as the 2016 World Junior Championships.

2024

Watanabe achieved a significant milestone in 2024 by winning his first Super 500 title at the Canada Open. This victory was a dream come true for him, and he expressed his joy and determination to continue progressing step by step. In the final, he faced Alex Lanier, winning the match 20–22, 21–17, 21–6. Lanier admitted that he lost steam in the third game, allowing Watanabe to dominate and secure the title.

Medal Record

  • Asian Games
    • Bronze: 2022 Hangzhou Men’s team
  • Asia Team Championships
    • Bronze: 2020 Manila Men’s team
    • Bronze: 2024 Selangor Men’s team
  • World Junior Championships
    • Bronze: 2015 Lima Boys’ singles
    • Bronze: 2016 Bilbao Mixed team
  • Asian Junior Championships
    • Bronze: 2015 Bangkok Mixed team
    • Bronze: 2016 Bangkok Mixed team

Awards and Nominations

Eddy Choong Most Promising Player of the Year in 2019 (nominated)

Achievements

BWF World Junior Championships
  • Boys’ singles: Bronze (2015)
BWF World Tour

Men’s singles: 3 titles, 3 runners-up

  • 2018
    • Russian Open (Super 100): Runner-up
  • 2019
    • Orléans Masters (Super 100): Winner
  • 2023
    • Swiss Open (Super 300): Winner
    • Korea Masters (Super 300): Runner-up
  • 2024
    • Canada Open (Super 500): Winner
    • Denmark Open (Super 750): Runner-up
BWF International Challenge/Series

Men’s singles: 2 titles

  • 2018
    • Yonex / K&D Graphics International: Winner
  • 2019
    • Osaka International: Winner

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