Rui Hirokami

Rui Hirokami (廣上 瑠依, Hirokami Rui; born 26 July 2002) is a Japanese badminton player who specializes in women's doubles.^[2] Partnering with Yuna Kato, she reached a career-high world ranking of No. 18 on 23 May 2023. They won their first BWF World Tour title at the Indonesia Masters Super 100 and were runners-up at three Super 300 tournaments: the Taipei Open, the Korea Masters, and the Orléans Masters.^[3] Hirokami was also a member of the Japanese team that won a bronze medal at the Asia Team Championships. In March 2025, she transferred to the Yonex badminton team and formed a new partnership with Sayaka Hobara.^[4]

Rui Hirokami
Rui Hirokami (on the right)
Personal information
Country	Japan
Born	(2002-07-26) 26 July 2002 (age 23) Takaoka, Toyama, Japan[1]
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Women's doubles
Highest ranking	18 (WD with Yuna Kato) (23 May 2023)
Current ranking	67 (WD with Sayaka Hobara) (5 August 2025)
Medal record Women's badminton Representing  Japan Asia Team Championships 2022 Selangor Women's team World Junior Championships 2019 Kazan Mixed team
BWF profile

Career

2022: First World Tour title and world No. 25 ranking

In 2022, Rui Hirokami partnered with Yuna Kato in women's doubles. On the BWF World Tour, they were runners-up at two tournaments: the Taipei Open (Super 300), losing to Hong Kong's Ng Tsz Yau and Tsang Hiu Yan, and the Canada Open (Super 100), losing to compatriots Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto.^[5][6][7] They won their first BWF World Tour title at the Indonesia Masters Super 100, defeating Miyaura and Sakuramoto in the final.^[8] They also secured two International Challenge titles: the Mexican International and the Belgian International.^[9] Hirokami contributed to Japan's bronze medal at the Asia Team Championships in Selangor. Starting the year unranked, they elevated their world ranking to No. 25 by 26 December 2022.

2023: Korea Masters runner-up and career-high world ranking

In 2023, Hirokami and Kato continued their women's doubles partnership on the BWF World Tour, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 18 on 23 May 2023. In November, they finished as runners-up at the Korea Masters (Super 300), losing to South Korea's Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong.^[3] They also advanced to the quarterfinals at the Thailand Masters and Spain Masters (both Super 300). However, in higher-level tournaments (Super 500, Super 750, and Super 1000), they were eliminated in the early rounds.

2024: Orléans Masters runner-up

In 2024, Hirokami primarily partnered with Kato. Their best result was a runner-up finish at the Orléans Masters (Super 300) in March, where they were defeated by Indonesian pair Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari and Rachel Allessya Rose.^[10] The pair also reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open in June and the quarterfinals of the Swiss Open in March. Early in the year, in higher-tier tournaments, they were eliminated in the first round of the Malaysia Open (Super 1000) and the India Open (Super 750) in January. Mid-year, Hirokami formed a temporary partnership with Rui Kiyama. This pair reached the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters Super 100 and the second round at the Macau Open.^[11] Hirokami later rejoined Kato for the Japan Masters in November, reaching the second round.

2025: New partnership

In March, Hirokami transferred from the Saishunkan Pharmaceutical to the Yonex badminton team, forming a women's doubles partnership with Sayaka Hobara. Upon joining Yonex, Hirokami expressed her ambition to compete in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.^[4] The pair debuted at the Taipei Open in May, advancing to the semifinals.^[12] The following week, they reached the semifinals of the Super 500 Thailand Open as qualifiers, marking a career-best World Tour performance for both players.^[13] They became the first qualifying doubles pair in any discipline to reach the Thailand Open semifinals since 2013.^[14]

Achievements

BWF World Tour (1 title, 4 runners-up)

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,^[15] 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 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.^[16]

Women's doubles

Year	Tournament	Level	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result	Ref
2022	Taipei Open	Super 300	Yuna Kato	Ng Tsz Yau Tsang Hiu Yan	15–21, 21–18, 19–21	Runner-up	[5][6]
2022	Canada Open	Super 100	Yuna Kato	Rena Miyaura Ayako Sakuramoto	13–21, 8–21	Runner-up	[7][17]
2022	Indonesia Masters	Super 100	Yuna Kato	Rena Miyaura Ayako Sakuramoto	23–21, 21–18	Winner	[8]
2023	Korea Masters	Super 300	Yuna Kato	Jeong Na-eun Kim Hye-jeong	12–21, 19–21	Runner-up	[3]
2024	Orléans Masters	Super 300	Yuna Kato	Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari Rachel Allessya Rose	12–21, 18–21	Runner-up	[10]

BWF International Challenge/Series (2 titles)

Women's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result	Ref
2022	Mexican International	Yuna Kato	Ayako Sakuramoto Hinata Suzuki	15–21, 21–19, 21–17	Winner
2022	Belgian International	Yuna Kato	Chang Ching-hui Yang Ching-tun	21–7, 21–15	Winner	[9]

  BWF International Challenge tournament

BWF Junior International (1 title)

Girls' doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result	Ref
2020	German Junior	Yuna Kato	Lee So-yul Yoo A-yeon	21–13, 21–14	Winner	[18]

  BWF Junior International Grand Prix tournament