Source: SOPA Images /Wong Fok Loy
[Saba Sports News] According to Japanese media, Tsuneyama Kanta, who left the Japanese badminton national team last year, will serve as the women’s team coach for the Hokuetsu Bank Badminton Club. Tsuneyama, born in 1996, reached a highest world ranking of 10 in men’s singles and achieved his greatest success by winning the men’s singles gold medal at the 2021 French Open Super 750. In the men’s singles final of the Korea Masters in November 2019, Tsuneyama defeated Lin Dan with scores of 24-22, 21-12. In September 2023, during the men’s team event at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, Tsuneyama’s team lost to China with a score of 1-3, regrettably securing a bronze medal. After the Japan Open in August 2024, Tsuneyama officially announced his retirement from the national team. Regarding this transition, Tsuneyama expressed his desire to pass on his experiences from his difficult times as a player to the athletes at Hokuetsu Bank, hoping to cultivate players who can actively compete on the world badminton stage.