Source:REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
[Saba Sports News] Watanabe Yuta, a mixed doubles badminton bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, shocked everyone by revealing on a TV show that he is married. This revelation left his longtime admirer and teammate, Higashino Arisa, deeply surprised. Later, Arisa posted on social media, announcing that their partnership would dissolve after the 2024 Japan Open, which is scheduled to end on August 20. In a new development, Arisa updated her social media yesterday to share the news of her marriage. Arisa revealed that she married former badminton player and current coach Yu Igarashi, with whom she has been together for five years, both working for the same company. It turns out that Arisa had gotten engaged before the Olympics but decided to register the marriage afterward, weighing the pros and cons. Arisa described her husband as a kind and excellent person who, during his playing days, inspired her a lot with his badminton style. Even when she was at her lowest mentally and competitively, he continuously supported and encouraged her, making her smile through it all. She expressed a desire to be with him in the next life as well, hoping for a future filled with smiles and compassion in their family. Some fans speculate that this marriage might be a “revenge” move, following a similar storyline as that of Yuta Watanabe.