Kenichi Tago
CountryJapan
Birth date16 July 1989 (age 37)
Birth placeWarabi, Saitama, Japan
Height1.76 m
Weight72 kg (159 lb)（active era）
107.42 kg (236.8 lb)(2020-present)
EventMen's singles
Highest ranking3
Date of highest ranking3 April 2014
HandednessRight
Bwfbadminton id63707

Kenichi Tago (田児賢一, Tago Ken'ichi, born 16 July 1989) is a Japanese former professional badminton player. He is the son of former badminton player Yoshiko Yonekura. In 2010, he reached the final of the All England Open Badminton Championships. En route to the final, he beat three seeded players, including Nguyễn Tiến Minh, Chen Jin and Bao Chunlai. In the final, Tago lost to the first seed and reigning World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia with a score of 21–19 and 21–19,[1] following an incorrect line call in Lee Chong Wei's favour at match point.[2] In 2012, he competed at the London 2012 Summer Olympics in the men's singles event, but did not advance to the knock-out stage after being defeated by Niluka Karunaratne of Sri Lanka with a score of 18–21, 16–21.[3] In 2014, he reached the Indonesia Open final after a shocking win over Lee Chong Wei in the semifinal but could not keep up his good form and went on to lose by straight games in the final to Jan Ø. Jørgensen of Denmark. He competed at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games.

Achievements

Asian Championships

Men's singles

YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
2010Siri Fort Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, IndiaWang Zhengming14–21, 21–19, 16–21Bronze

BWF World Junior Championships

Boys' singles

YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
2007The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere City, New ZealandChen Long16–21, 14–21Silver

Asian Junior Championships

Boys' singles

YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
2006Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaHan Ki-hoon21–13, 16–21, 26–24Gold

BWF Super Series

The BWF Super Series, launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[4] was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Super Series had two level such as Super Series and Super Series Premier. A season of the Super Series featured a total of twelve tournaments around the world since the 2011 season,[5] with successful players invited to the Super Series Finals held at the year end.

Men's singles

YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
2010All England OpenLee Chong Wei19–21, 19–21Runner-up
2011French OpenLee Chong Wei16–21, 11–21Runner-up
2012Malaysia OpenLee Chong Wei6–21, 13–21Runner-up
2013India OpenLee Chong Wei15–21, 21–18, 17–21Runner-up
2013Japan OpenLee Chong Wei21–23, 17–21Runner-up
2013French OpenJan Ø. Jørgensen19–21, 21–23Runner-up
2014Indonesia OpenJan Ø. Jørgensen18–21, 18–21Runner-up
BWF Super Series Premier tournament
BWF Superseries tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series

Men's singles

YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
2007Swedish InternationalJens Kristian Leth21–15, 21–15Winner
2007Scottish InternationalBjörn Joppien11–21, 21–15, 21–18Winner
2007Korea InternationalShon Seung-mo15–21, 21–18, 10–21Runner-up
2008Belgian InternationalChetan Anand21–16, 15–21, 21–19Winner
BWF International Challenge tournament
BWF International Series tournament

Record against selected opponents

Includes results against Olympic quarterfinals, Worlds semifinalists, and Super Series finalists, as well as all Olympic opponents.[6]

Gambling scandal

In October 2015, Tago was removed from Japan's national team by head coach Park Joo-bong due to indiscipline, after he repeatedly missed training sessions and was proving to be a bad influence to other players.[7] On 8 April 2016, Tago admitted to squandering 10 million Japanese yen over a period of 2 years after making over 60 visits to illegal casinos alongside other professional players, including countryman Kento Momota, who was banned from competition until late 2017 and forced to miss the Olympic Games as a result.[8] Gambling in Japan is illegal, with frequent gambling punishable with imprisonment of up to 3 years.[9]

References

  1. ^ "All England: Chong Wei Crowned All England Champion". Bernama. Bernama. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Video replay shows final shot to be out.". YouTube. YouTube. 15 March 2010. Archived 2021-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  3. ^ "Tago exits in badminton first round". The Japan Times. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  4. ^ "BWF Launches Super Series". Badminton Australia. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007.
  5. ^ "Yonex All England Elevated To BWF Premier Super Series Event". www.ibadmintonstore.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  6. ^ Tournaments of Kenichi Tago
  7. ^ "Bad boy Tago axed from Japan national team - Badminton". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 8 April 2016. “It was a difficult decision to make, but we had to do it because we did not want his action to influence others in the national team,” said head coach Park Joo-bong, who added that Tago was dropped after the Japan Open last month. “Without him, our strength in men's singles will be diluted, but we had no choice because he broke the national camp rules several times.” It is learnt that Tago did not report for centralised training and preferred more personal attention. Joo-bong believes that the axing of Tago would keep others in check. “If this can happen to Tago, it can happen to anyone in the national team,” he said.
  8. ^ "バド桃田ら賭博関与認める「規約違反」五輪絶望的" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Tearful Tago wants mercy for Momota over casino visit". Reuters India. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.