Source: Visual China Group/VCG
[Saba Sports News] For years, the duo of Yuki Fukushima and Ayaka Hirota has been active in women’s doubles badminton, achieving a fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics but failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Yesterday afternoon, the “Fukugawa” duo held a press conference in Gifu City to officially announce their dissolution. Moving forward, Yuki Fukushima will pair with other players to continue competing in doubles; Ayaka Hirota will continue her rehabilitation for her left knee. Although she has undergone surgery, her recovery has not been ideal. At the press conference, Yuki Fukushima broke the silence first, expressing with a slightly choked voice that it was because of Hirota that she could participate in world competitions, and she was glad to team up with Hirota. They have shared countless honors and challenges together, with every step filled with their sweat and tears. Now they have reached a consensus that separating may be the best choice for their respective careers and health. Ayaka Hirota stated that her participation in the Tokyo Olympics was due to partnering with Fukushima. Unfortunately, her injury has caused many troubles for Fukushima, for which she is very grateful. Some fans commented that Ayaka Hirota has had very bad luck, being affected by torn knee ligaments in both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, which not only impacted her competitive state but also significantly reduced the overall strength of the pair.