“It was an international tournament after a long time. I was able to feel tension, regret, and enjoyment all in one week,” Chiharu Shida said after competing at the French Open alongside her new partner, 20-year-old Hiramoto Ririna.

Japanese badminton star Chiharu Shida has debuted a new partnership with 20-year-old compatriot Hiramoto Ririna, following the conclusion of their run at the French Open, according to reports by osen.mt.co.kr. The 29-year-old Olympic medalist shared photos and reflections on her Instagram account regarding her return to international competition with a new teammate.

Social Media Response to the New Pairing

Images posted by Shida showed the two athletes standing side by side, smiling and flashing victory signs. Fans responded warmly to the new combination in the comment section, leaving remarks such as “truly cute,” “the new partnership looks wonderful and natural,” and encouraging Shida to “not rush and do your best at your own pace,” osen.mt.co.kr reported.

The age gap of nine years between the 29-year-old veteran and the 20-year-old up-and-comer has drawn significant attention from supporters across Japan as the duo embarks on their initial international fixtures.

Transition Following the July Split

The partnership follows Shida’s split from her previous longtime partner, Igarashi Arisa, which was officially announced on July 31. Following the separation, Shida teamed up with Hiramoto to begin a fresh competitive chapter.

Before traveling to Europe, the newly formed pair represented Aomori Prefecture at the National Sports Festival, contributing to a victory in the adult women’s division. They then carried that momentum onto the global stage at the French Open, where they advanced to the quarterfinals in their first international tournament together, according to osen.mt.co.kr.

Shared Roots at Aomori Yamada High School

Hiramoto shares an athletic background with Shida as an alumna of Aomori Yamada High School, having previously captured the women’s doubles title at the 2024 World Junior Championships. With Hiramoto bringing youth and junior-level credentials to the court alongside Shida’s Olympic pedigree, the 9-year-age-gap pairing enters the next stretch of the BWF tour looking to build on their quarterfinal finish.