Aya Ohori’s Journey from Badminton Prodigy to Overcoming Setbacks and Making a Comeback

An encounter with destiny.

Aya Ohori’s favorite musician is Naoto Inti Raymi, and she always listens to his music before matches. In her free time, she enjoys watching YouTube videos, having watched all the content from actress Riisa Naka, whom she is a fan of. Off the court, she is just another young adult in her twenties.

Ohori’s passion for badminton had been waning, and she wanted to distance herself from the sport. However, a particular encounter proved to be a major turning point.

“The presence of Kaori Imabeppu, who became the national team coach in May 2023, was truly significant. Until then, I felt that my enthusiasm and that of my coach were out of sync. Despite being close, I didn’t consult with them and made all decisions on my own. But Imabeppu-san is more passionate about analysis than I am, and her feedback is precise. For the first time, things just clicked for me.” 

She made a return to the national team and, since last summer, has been tackling her challenges alongside Coach Imabeppu in a close partnership.

“To improve my stamina, which was a weakness, I practiced with training rackets that were nearly twice as heavy. I also revised how I handle shots from mid-court to the net to better utilize my strong smashes from the backcourt. Coach Imabeppu’s training involves a lot of repetitive drills, which are really hell (laughs). But even though these were aspects I had been avoiding, I can feel that I’m growing.”

The results came quickly. In October 2023, she won a bronze medal at the Asian Games and, in February of this year, defeated Nozomi Okuhara, who had been on a ten-match losing streak in international competitions.

Another key supporter for Ohori is her high school coach, who is now the head coach at Tonami Transportation: her father, Hitoshi. 

“My father is more sensitive to my condition than I am. During matches, he provides precise advice alongside Coach Imabeppu. At home, we hardly talk about badminton (laughs). Nevertheless, I trust him completely in this regard.

At the Paris Olympics, I want to show my gratitude to all those who have supported me by performing on the court. I will trust in what I have built up and stick to my aggressive style!”

With the support of many, Ohori has made a comeback and is now approaching a pivotal moment in her career.

From the July 26/August 2, 2024 issue of FRIDAY