In a dramatic turnaround, Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi claimed victory from the jaws of defeat in the Rio 2016 women’s doubles final.
With the score at 16-19 in the third game, two points away from defeat against Danish pair Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl, the Japanese won five straight points to clinch Japan’s very first Olympic gold medal in badminton.
Japan will again be a force in women’s doubles at Paris 2024, represented by fourth seeds Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida and two-time world champs Mayu Matsumoto/Wakana Nagahara.