Source: Sipa USA /Costfoto
[Saba Sports News] On April 10, the Japan Badminton Association officially announced that women’s doubles player Sakuramoto Ayako voluntarily quit the national team’s women’s doubles position. The official reason given by the Japan Badminton Association is: the request of the affiliated club. Data shows that Sakuramoto Ayako and Igarashi Arisa formed a team after the Paris Olympics and have participated in many women’s doubles events, with their tacit understanding gradually increasing. Not only did they win the second place in women’s doubles badminton at the All Japan Comprehensive Championships in Japan, but they also won the championship at the 2025 India Open Badminton Championships by defeating strong opponents such as Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning, Li Yijing/Luo Xumin, and Kim Hye Jeong/Kong Hee Yong, and were selected for the Asian Badminton Mixed Team Championships list, helping the Japanese team win the third place. However, just as the two were on the rise in their careers, they suddenly announced their separation, leaving rumors of discord and suspicions of interfering in each other’s marriages, with the truth remaining a mystery. In fact, as early as March 3 this year, the Chinese badminton forum broke the news of discord between Igarashi Arisa and Sakuramoto Ayako. The exposure at that time stated that the two had canceled each other’s attention and deleted all the group photos when they were paired up. In addition, some sources said that Igarashi Arisa would return to the mixed doubles court, and Sakuramoto Ayako would partner with Sayaka Hobara to continue participating in women’s doubles competitions.