Satoshi Saida
斎田 悟司
ResidenceMie Preti, Japan
Birth dateMarch 26, 1972 (age 54)
Birth placeKashiwa City, Japan
PlaysRight Handed
Singlesrecord486–163
HighestsinglesrankingNo.3 (11 August 2003)
CurrentsinglesrankingNo.23 (18 September 2017)
Doublesrecord446–99
HighestdoublesrankingNo.1 (18 November 2002)
CurrentdoublesrankingNo.28 (18 September 2017)
AustralianopendoublesresultW (2008)
WimbledondoublesresultW (2006)
UsopendoublesresultW (2007)
OthertournamentsdoublesYes
WheelchairtennismastersdoublesresultW (2003, 2004)
Paralympicsdoublesresult Gold Medal (2004)
Bronze Medal (2008, 2016)

Satoshi Saida (斎田 悟司, Saida Satoshi, born March 26, 1972 in Yokkaichi, Mie) is a Japanese pioneering wheelchair tennis player and 2004 Summer Paralympics gold medalist (Men's doubles with Shingo Kunieda).

Saida, a big baseball enthusiast in his childhood, lost his left leg because of bone cancer at age twelve.[1] At first, he used to play wheelchair basketball with his friends.[1][2] Saida started his career in wheelchair tennis when he was fourteen years old.[3]

As a competitor, his first Paralympics was the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, USA; at the succeeding games in Sydney, Australia, he got eighth place.[4] With Shingo Kunieda, he participated in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece, and won the men's doubles event.[5] The two competed together again at the 2008 Beijing Games and took bronze in the doubles event.[6]

References

  1. ^ "MUFG; Vol.6 Satoshi Saida As long as I continue to be my toughest critic, I can continue to evolve as a player". Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Wheelchair tennis great Kunieda talks about past, present and future after retirement". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Satoshi Saida Tennis Player Profile". International Tennis Federation. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Satoshi Saida - Wheelchair Tennis | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Athens 2004 - wheelchair-tennis - mens-doubles". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Men's Doubles – Open Bronze Medal Match". The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-25.