[Saba Sports News] On April 22, Japanese badminton player Hoki Takurō announced the birth of his third son, a baby boy, on social media, drawing intense attention from fans.
In his post, Hoki said that thanks to the support from all walks of life, he was able to successfully accompany his wife during childbirth. He expressed deep gratitude to his wife, who went through a long labor and safely gave birth to a healthy baby. He added that he would work even harder for his family in the future. It is reported that Hoki’s wife was also a badminton player. The couple married in 2022 and have welcomed three children in four years.
The 30-year-old Hoki is a men’s doubles badminton athlete. He has formed a fixed partnership with Kobayashi Yugo since 2013, and the pair have competed together for 13 years. At the 2021 BWF World Championships, they defeated the Chinese pair He Jiting/Tan Qiang in the final to claim the title, making history for Japanese badminton. The duo first reached the world No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles in 2022, holding the top spot for a total of 14 weeks. Unfortunately, the pair have failed to prove themselves at the Olympic Games. They missed out on the Tokyo Olympics due to being ranked third within the Japanese team. At the Paris Olympics, they were eliminated early in the group stage with only one win and three losses. Entering the Los Angeles Olympic cycle, although they remain Japan’s top men’s doubles pair and are currently ranked eighth in the world, their competitiveness has declined.
In the editor’s opinion, Hoki Takurō is a top men’s doubles player with delicate skills, great chemistry with his partner, and strong mental toughness. Despite his height of just 1.67 meters, he has reached the pinnacle of the sport through tactical intelligence and long-term stability with his partner, making him a key representative of Japan’s “golden generation” of badminton.