Eisspeedway

Kenta Nishimoto

Kenta Nishimoto
西本 拳太
Personal information
CountryJapan
Born (1994-08-30) 30 August 1994 (age 30)
Ise, Mie, Japan[1]
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
HandednessRight
Men's singles
Highest ranking9 (6 September 2018)
Current ranking15 (26 November 2024)
BWF profile

Kenta Nishimoto (西本 拳太, Nishimoto Kenta, born 30 August 1994) is a Japanese badminton player. He won a silver medal in the men's singles at the 2017 Summer Universiade and a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games. Nishimoto was part of Japan winning team at the 2012 Asian Junior Championships and at the 2017 Asia Mixed Team Championships.[2][3]

Career

2013: First career final

In 2013, Nishimoto reached the final of the Russia Open Grand Prix tournament, and became the runner-up after being defeated by Vladimir Ivanov of Russia.[4]

2017: Summer Universiade silver

In August, Nishimoto participated in the 2017 Summer Universiade, held in Taipei. He lost to Wang Tzu-wei in the final, 16–21, 15–21, clinching a silver medal.[5]

2018: Asian Games bronze; 2 World Tour finals

In January, Nishimoto reached his first BWF World Tour final, the 2018 Malaysia Masters. In the final, he lost to then-reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen in the final, 13–21, 23–21, 18–21 in three games.[6]

Later in August, Nishimoto participated in the 2018 Asian Games, held in Jakarta. He lost to home favourite and eventual champion Jonatan Christie in the semi-final, losing 15–21, 21–15, 19–21 in three games, winning a bronze medal.[7]

At the end of the year, Nishimoto made it to another final, the 2018 Hong Kong Open. He lost to Korea's Son Wan-ho in the final, losing 21–14, 17–21, 13–21 in an hour and 29 minutes.[8]

2019–2020

Kicking off the 2019 season, in March, Nishimoto made it to his first final of the year, the 2019 German Open. He lost in the final to compatriot Kento Momota in straight games, losing 10–21, 16–21.[9]

The following year, at the 2020 Thailand Masters, Nishimoto lost to Hong Kong's Ng Ka Long in the final, losing 21–16, 13–21, 12–21 in three games.[10]

2022: First international title

In September, Nishimoto made it to his 7th career final, this time at his home event, the 2022 Japan Open. In the final, he beat 6th ranked and 3rd seed Chou Tien-chen in the final, winning 21–19, 21–23, 21–17 in rubber games. After the final, Nishimoto stated that he was "really happy" and also "a bit relieved" after clinching his first title, and thanked the home crowd for their support.[11][12]

Achievements

Asian Games

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2018 Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia Indonesia Jonatan Christie 15–21, 21–15, 19–21 Bronze Bronze

Summer Universiade

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2017 Taipei Gymnasium, Taipei, Taiwan Chinese Taipei Wang Tzu-wei 16–21, 15–21 Silver Silver

BWF World Tour (2 titles, 7 runners-up)

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[13] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300, and the BWF Tour Super 100.[14]

Men's singles

Year Tournament Level Opponent Score Result
2018 Malaysia Masters Super 500 Denmark Viktor Axelsen 13–21, 23–21, 18–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2018 Hong Kong Open Super 500 South Korea Son Wan-ho 21–14, 17–21, 13–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2019 German Open Super 300 Japan Kento Momota 10–21, 16–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2020 Thailand Masters Super 300 Hong Kong Ng Ka Long 21–16, 13–21, 12–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2022 Japan Open Super 750 Chinese Taipei Chou Tien-chen 21–19, 21–23, 21–17 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2023 Spain Masters Super 300 Japan Kanta Tsuneyama 15–21, 21–18, 21–19 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2023 Hong Kong Open Super 500 Indonesia Jonatan Christie 21–12, 20–22, 18–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2023 China Masters Super 750 Japan Kodai Naraoka 13–21, 13–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2023 Syed Modi International Super 300 Chinese Taipei Chi Yu-jen 22–20, 12–21, 17–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

BWF Superseries (1 runner-up)

The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[15] was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels were Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consisted of twelve tournaments around the world that had been introduced since 2011.[16] Successful players were invited to the Superseries Finals, which were held at the end of each year.

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2017 French Open India Srikanth Kidambi 14–21, 13–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
  BWF World Superseries Premier tournament
  BWF World Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix (1 runner-up)

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2013 Russian Open Russia Vladimir Ivanov 17–21, 21–15, 14–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF Grand Prix tournament

References

  1. ^ "バドミントン 伊勢出身の西本拳太選手がパリ五輪代表に内定" (in Japanese). NHK. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Players: Kenta Nishimoto". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  3. ^ "西本拳太" (in Japanese). Badminton Spirit. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Russia Open 2013 – And Aya makes six!". Badzine. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  5. ^ Hearn, Don (30 August 2017). "UNIVERSIADE – 5 of 6 golds for the home team". Badzine. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  6. ^ AFP (21 January 2018). "Axelsen sees off Nishimoto to clinch Malaysian Masters". Diario AS. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  7. ^ Indartiningrum, Naomi (28 August 2018). "ASIAN GAMES 2018 SF – 3 golds in a row for Indonesia!". Badzine. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Badminton: Son Wan-ho resurgent in Hong Kong Open final, Nozomi Okuhara delighted with win". AFP. 18 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Badminton: Momota, Yamaguchi win as Japan dominates German Open". Kyodo News. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Hong Kong's Ng Ka-long nabs Thailand Masters from Japan's Nishimoto". Press Trust of India. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  11. ^ AFP (4 September 2022). "Japan Open: Kenta Nishimoto, Akane Yamaguchi win men's and women's singles titles". Sportstar. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  12. ^ Pierre, Dianne (4 September 2022). "Japan Open: Three the Magic Number". bwfworldtour.bwfbadminton.com. Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  13. ^ Alleyne, Gayle (19 March 2017). "BWF Launches New Events Structure". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  14. ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  15. ^ "BWF Launches Super Series". Badminton Australia. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007.
  16. ^ "Yonex All England Elevated To BWF Premier Super Series Event". IBadmintonstore. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.