Riku Hatano

=== 2022 ===

=== 2022 ===

In 2022, Hatano achieved his first senior international titles. He won the [[Slovak Open (badminton)|Slovak Open]], defeating [[Chi Yu-jen]] of Chinese Taipei in the final,<ref name="slo22">{{cite web |last=Sharma |first=Yash |url=https://badmintoneurope.com/cms/?clubid=4685&cmsid=239&pageid=5381&m=8572389 |title=Slovak Open: Five titles, five nations |publisher=[[Badminton Europe]] |date=6 March 2022 |access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref> and secured his second title at the [[Réunion Open]], defeating teammate [[Yushi Tanaka]].<ref name="reu22">{{cite web |last=Matsuda |first=Keita |url=https://www.badminton.or.jp/games/2022/ReunionOpen2022.html |title=Saint-Denis Reunion Open 2022 Result |publisher=[[Nippon Badminton Association]] |access-date=25 August 2024 |language=ja}}</ref> Hatano was also the runner-up at the [[North Harbour International]], losing to Tanaka.<ref name="nh22">{{cite web |url=https://badmintonoceania.org/japan-claim-2-golds-chinese-taipei-take-3-finals-at-the-victor-north-harbour-international-2022/ |title=Japan claim 2 golds; Chinese Taipei take 3 – Finals at the VICTOR North Harbour International 2022 |publisher=Badminton Confederation Oceania |date=23 October 2022 |access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref>

In 2022, Hatano won his first senior international titles. He captured the [[Slovak Open (badminton)|Slovak Open]], a BWF Future Series event, by defeating [[Chi Yu-jen]] of Chinese Taipei in the final.<ref name="slo22">{{cite web |last=Sharma |first=Yash |url=https://badmintoneurope.com/cms/?clubid=4685&cmsid=239&pageid=5381&m=8572389 |title=Slovak Open: Five titles, five nations |publisher=[[Badminton Europe]] |date=6 March 2022 |access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref> Later that year, he won the [[Réunion Open]], an International Challenge tournament, over compatriot [[Yushi Tanaka]].<ref name="reu22">{{cite web |last=Matsuda |first=Keita |url=https://www.badminton.or.jp/games/2022/ReunionOpen2022.html |title=Saint-Denis Reunion Open 2022 Result |publisher=[[Nippon Badminton Association]] |access-date=25 August 2024 |language=ja}}</ref> He also finished as the runner-up to Tanaka at the [[North Harbour International]].<ref name="nh22">{{cite web |url=https://badmintonoceania.org/japan-claim-2-golds-chinese-taipei-take-3-finals-at-the-victor-north-harbour-international-2022/ |title=Japan claim 2 golds; Chinese Taipei take 3 – Finals at the VICTOR North Harbour International 2022 |publisher=Badminton Confederation Oceania |date=23 October 2022 |access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref>

In team events, Hatano represented Japan at the [[2022 Badminton Asia Team Championships|Asia Team Championships]] in Malaysia.<ref>{{cite web |title=[Opening February 15th] Badminton Asian Team Championships 2022 Schedule and Broadcast Schedule; Japan's men's and women's teams aim for the top in Asia |url=https://olympics.com/ja/news/badminton-asia-team-championships-2022-nittei-hosoyotei |publisher=International Olympic Committee |access-date=8 December 2024 |language=ja |date=13 February 2022}}</ref> He played singles in the group stage, defeating [[Artur Niyazov]] of Kazakhstan, but subsequently lost to the then-reigning [[2021 BWF World Championships – Men's singles|world champion]] [[Loh Kean Yew]] of Singapore (16–21, 15–21) and [[Lee Zii Jia]] of Malaysia (21–15, 6–21, 15–21). Japan did not advance from the group stage.<ref>{{cite web |title=[Asian Team 2022] The Japanese men's team won their first league match against lower-ranked Kazakhstan 5-0! <Day 2 Results> |url=https://www.badspi.jp/202202162100/ |publisher=Badminton Spirit |access-date=8 December 2024 |language=ja |date=16 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=David |title=Badminton: Singapore beat Japan 3-2 to edge closer to Asia Team C'ships medal |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/badminton-singapore-beat-japan-3-2-to-edge-closer-to-asia-team-cships-medal |publisher=[[The Straits Times]] |access-date=8 December 2024 |date=17 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=[Asian Team 2022] Japan's men's team lost 2-3 to Malaysia, which had top-ranked players, despite a fierce battle. They missed out on a place in the top four. <Day 4/Second Half Results> |url=https://www.badspi.jp/202202182200/ |publisher=Badminton Spirit |access-date=8 December 2024 |language=ja |date=18 February 2022}}</ref> Later in May, Hatano was part of the Japanese squad at the [[2022 Thomas & Uber Cup|Thomas Cup]] in Bangkok, Thailand. The team reached the semifinals, where they lost to Indonesia, ultimately securing a bronze medal.

Hatano represented Japan in two major team competitions that year. At the [[2022 Badminton Asia Team Championships|Asia Team Championships]], he secured a win in the group stage tie against Kazakhstan.<ref>{{cite web |title=[Asian Team 2022] The Japanese men's team won their first league match against lower-ranked Kazakhstan 5-0! <Day 2 Results> |url=https://www.badspi.jp/202202162100/ |publisher=Badminton Spirit |access-date=8 December 2024 |language=ja |date=16 February 2022}}</ref> However, he lost his matches against Singapore's then-reigning [[2021 BWF World Championships – Men's singles|world champion]], [[Loh Kean Yew]] and Malaysia's [[Lee Zii Jia]], as Japan did not advance to the knockout stage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=David |title=Badminton: Singapore beat Japan 3-2 to edge closer to Asia Team C'ships medal |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/badminton-singapore-beat-japan-3-2-to-edge-closer-to-asia-team-cships-medal |publisher=[[The Straits Times]] |access-date=8 December 2024 |date=17 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=[Asian Team 2022] Japan's men's team lost 2-3 to Malaysia, which had top-ranked players, despite a fierce battle. They missed out on a place in the top four. <Day 4/Second Half Results> |url=https://www.badspi.jp/202202182200/ |publisher=Badminton Spirit |access-date=8 December 2024 |language=ja |date=18 February 2022}}</ref> In May, Hatano was a member of the Japanese squad that won a bronze medal at the [[2022 Thomas & Uber Cup|Thomas Cup]] in Bangkok.

=== 2023 ===

=== 2023 ===