Source: Action Images/RITZAU SCANPIX
[Saba Sports News] This week at the Singapore Badminton Challenge, a familiar name appeared: Kawakami Saena. The 27-year-old player was originally a women’s singles athlete for the Japanese national team. Like her similarly-built teammates Yamaguchi Akane and Okuhara Nozomi, Kawakami Saena made her mark in the world of badminton with her excellent mobility and strong defensive skills. In 2017, at just 20 years old, she won consecutive women’s singles titles at tournaments in Taipei and Canada and earned two runner-up finishes at the New Zealand Open and the China Masters, showcasing her impressive talent and potential to become a key player for the Japanese women’s badminton team. However, Kawakami did not receive the attention and support she deserved from the Japanese coaching staff. She was not selected for the Japanese team in the 2018 Uber Cup and the Jakarta Asian Games. Since the 2020 season, due to poor performances at the All Japan Championships, Kawakami has rarely appeared in BWF events. It was not until April 2022 at the Korea Open that she made a return. Last February, Kawakami announced her withdrawal from the Japanese national team via social media. Surprisingly, in just one year, she completed the process of changing her nationality and obtained the qualification to compete for the Australian team.