PETALING JAYA: The World Championships in Paris from Aug 25 will be the swansong for world No. 2 pair Chiharu Shida-Nami Matsuyama after more than a decade together.
The surprise announcement was made by the Japanese women’s doubles pair in Kumamoto on Tuesday. Shida will team up with Arisa Igarashi, while Nami Matsuyama has yet to decide on her next step.
Shida admitted that the decision may come as a shock to some, but insisted that her goal of becoming world No. 1 remains unchanged despite the change in partnership.
“Personally, while I’m satisfied with what we achieved at the Olympics, there are still some regrets. I’ve always had a strong desire to become the world No. 1 pair, and I’m still determined to keep competing,” said Shida, who enjoys a strong global fan following.
“Starting September, I’ll be playing with a new partner, and our aim is to become the top women’s doubles pair in the world.”
Matsuyama, meanwhile, paid tribute to their decade-long partnership and the memories they created together.
“For the past 10 years, we always gave our best, supported by everyone around us. From close teammates to becoming the best of partners, this is a chapter I will cherish for the rest of my life,” she said.
“There are no words that can truly express my gratitude to Shida. Having her as my partner was nothing short of a blessing.”
Throughout their 10-year partnership, Shida and Matsuyama enjoyed plenty of success, including a silver medal at the Asian Championships in Ningbo, China, in April.
They also proved to be a tough hurdle for Malaysia’s Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, having beaten the national pair in the bronze medal playoff at the Paris Olympics last year.
In total, they already have 12 titles and 14 runners-up finishes under their belt on the BWF World Tour.
They still have a chance to add to their tally before going their separate ways, with the Japan Open starting next Tuesday, followed by the China Open a week later.
