| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 近藤 小織 (1956-03-18) 18 March 1956 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Badminton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | Women's singles & doubles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Saori Kondo (近藤 小織, Kondo Saori; born 18 March 1956) is a former badminton player who won Japanese national titles and excelled internationally in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Known for her quickness and determination, Kondo was runner-up in women's singles at the prestigious All-England Championships in both 1978 and 1979.[1] She performed exceptionally well for the Japanese Uber Cup (women's international) teams, which won consecutive world championships in 1978 and 1981.[2]
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asahi Sports Award | 1978 | Victory at the 1978 Uber Cup with the Japanese women's national team | Won | [3] |
| Asahi Sports Award | 1981 | Victory at the 1981 Uber Cup with the Japanese women's national team | Won | [3] |
Achievements
World Cup
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Kyoto, Japan | 9–15, 15–11, 3–15 |
Asian Games
Women's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Bangkok, Thailand | 5–11, 4–11 |
Asian Championships
Women's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad, India |
4–11, 4–11 |
International tournaments
Women's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Japan Open | 10–12, 5–11 | ||
| 1978 | All England Open | 1–11, 9–11 | ||
| 1979 | All England Open | 9–13, 11–1, 8–11 | ||
| 1981 | Denmark Open | 1–11, 2–11 |
References
- Lorne Wortman, "Only Lene is Able to Stop Indonesian Onslaught at John Player All England Championships," World Badminton, May 1979, 4.
- Pat Davis. The Gunness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 136.
- "Asahi Sports Award (1975-1988)". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 22 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.