Source:REUTERS/VCG
[Saba Sports News] Japanese women’s doubles badminton star Chiharu Shida recently updated her social media, sharing a photo of herself and her former partner Nami Matsuyama visiting their mentor, Kei Nakajima. She captioned the post, “Once again, I expressed my gratitude to Mr. Ding.” This was a long-awaited reunion for them. Kei Nakajima, a former Chinese national team player who naturalized as a Japanese citizen, has been a key coach in the rise of Japanese women’s doubles. He previously guided the “Matsu-Shida pair” to achievements such as winning the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Kei Nakajima is the most important mentor in the careers of Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama, described by Shida as “a very trustworthy person.” The editor believes this reunion comes at a pivotal moment in Shida’s career, as she and Matsuyama have parted ways and are now collaborating with new partners. The trio revisited their mentor-student bond and recalled past training and competition moments. This cross-border reunion not only served as a grateful reflection on their 11-year partnership but also provided spiritual support for Shida’s new journey, highlighting the pure mentor-student relationship and spirit ofinheritance in the sports world, transcending wins and losses and national boundaries.