[Saba Sports News] On January 30, the Badminton Association of Japan announced the national team roster for 2026. Nakajima Kei, who was naturalized from China, will continue to serve as the head coach of the women’s doubles team, drawing significant attention from fans. The coaching staff of the Japanese badminton team underwent a massive overhaul after the Paris Olympics, with even the head coach departing. Nakajima Kei is the only one among the chief coaches of various disciplines who was not dismissed, highlighting the Badminton Association of Japan’s recognition of his coaching abilities.
Originally named Ding Qiqing, Nakajima Kei was a former member of the Chinese national badminton team. He won men’s doubles championships at tournaments in Germany and Sweden in 1985 alongside Li Yongbo, and he helped the Chinese team secure the Thomas Cup in 1986. In 1987, Ding Qiqing retired from the Chinese national team due to a back injury. In 1989, he was invited by a friend to study in Japan, where he later received an offer from a Japanese badminton club to become a professional coach.
In 2000, Ding Qiqing accepted an invitation from the Badminton Association of Japan to work as a part-time coach for the youth national team. According to media reports, he later renounced his Chinese citizenship against his family’s wishes to become a Japanese citizen, which led to disagreements with his family over his name change to Nakajima Kei.
Since 2002, Nakajima Kei has served as the coach for the Japanese women’s doubles team, maintaining the position for 24 years. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, his disciples Matsutomo Misaki and Takahashi Ayaka won the gold medal in women’s doubles, marking the first Olympic gold medal in the history of the Japanese badminton team. It can be said that Nakajima Kei has elevated Japanese women’s doubles badminton from an overlooked role to its current prominence.