Riki Takei is a 17 year old Japanese player, born on the 21st of July 2003. He is currently ranked #17 in BWF’s junior ranking for men’s singles. With 45 career wins in men’s singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles category, Takei is on his way to becoming one of Asia’s best players!
One of the first tournaments that he’s participated in was in 2015 at the SINGAPORE YOUTH INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2015. He then competed there again the following year and made it to the round of 16, as well as participating at the BADMINTON ASIA U17 & U15 JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016. In 2017 he got his first taste of victory at the SINGAPORE YOUTH INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2017 where he won gold in the doubles category along with partner Shohei Noguchi. They defeated Indonesian duo Muh Putra Erwiansyah and Carlo Syah Gumilar 19-21, 21-13, 21-12 in 50 minutes! He also made it to the quarter finals in the men's sinlgles before being defeated by Malaysian player Chia Jeng Jon.
In 2018, he competed in more competitions than the previous year’s. In early September, Takei competed at the JAKARTA OPEN JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018 where he won silver in the men’s singles category. There, he competed against Indonesia’s Sulistio Tegar. The next month, he participated in the BADMINTON ASIA JUNIOR U17 & U15 CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018 and made it to the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles with partner Shohei Noguchi. Take also managed to reach the quarterfinals of the KOREA JUNIOR OPEN INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE 2018 before being defeated by Muhammad Akbar Fridaus 11-21, 20-21.
In 2020, he competed for the first time at the DUTCH JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL 2020 where he made it the round of 16 with partner Haruta Uchino. He also competed at the GERMAN JUNIOR 2020 for the first time and made it to the round of 16 in the men’s singles category.
Riki Takei has played in many competitions but we’re so excited to see him play and win more! We can’t wait to witness his growth into becoming one of Asia’s new best players.
