The nineteen year old Japanese singles player Kenichi Tago is Japan's hope for the future in Men's Singles. He is currently ranked 19th in Men's Singles. He caused a major upset in the Japan Open 2008 SS, when he beat Chen Yu. Tago came runner-up in the Boys' Singles round in the World Junior Championships held in 2007.
Kenichi-chan.. ..was the runner-up in the 2007 WJC, losing to Chen Long... http://www.internationalbadminton.org/WJC/WJC_MS.xls
Off course his style look like taufik. Kenichi tago idolizes taufik very much. He also bandage his knee like taufik, eventhough he doesn't have knee problem..
Some info from wikipedia: Name in Kanji: 田児賢一 Nickname: Kenbo DOB: July 16th 1989 Raised up in: Saitama Height: 174cm Weight: 66kg Blood-type: A Handedness: Right Record: 2001- All Japan Elementary Schools Badminton Championships Boys' Doubles Winner 2003- All Japan Secondary Schools Badminton Championships Boys' Doubles Winner 2004- All Japan Secondary Schools Badminton Championships Boys' Doubles Winner 2005- All Japan Junior Championships Men's Doubles Winner 2006- Nationals MS and MD winner 2006- Inter-high MS and MD winner 2007- All Japan Nationals MS and MD winner 2007- Inter-high MS and MD team winner 2008- All Japan Nationals MS winner Internationals: 2006- Asia Junior Championships MS Winner 2007- Sweden Open MS Winner 2007- World Junior Championships MS Runner-up 2008- Belgium Open MS Winner 2008- Yonex Japan Open round of 14
He put up a good fight against Wong Choong Hann at the Thomas Cup 2008. Tago looked relaxed but actually wasn't - his errors cost him the match. This young man will go a long way if he can learn to be consistent And, as others have pointed out, he does mirror Taufik's playing style.
Waw... interesting to know that he plays (or try) like Taufik... but.. I think Taufik doesn't scream like him (look the pic above), hehe... but yes, all the best for him since he is still so young, still many years to come...
agree..........he is promising player in MS...i think he can be the next TH ...i wonder if he against LD in finall (any kind of tournmnt)....it will be exciting games
Tago was supposed to play against Chen Jin at the China Open but he withdrew. Maybe he's not ready yet.. but Tago is aiming for a medal at the 2012 London OG
After watching Kenichi Tago play, he's promising for sure but tries to be too flashy and deceptive and makes tons of errors because of that. Taufik has that problem also, but for him it's natural. I feel like Kenichi Tago forces it. He also doesn't have the flash of explosiveness that Taufik sometimes shows. And for sure he doesn't have the powerful jump smash and the touch. Yet.
Kenichi Tago's profile on his team page: http://www.ntt-east.co.jp/symbol/badminton/member/m_03.html He says he started playing badminton just like how Shoji Sato did, as his parents were top-level players. He started playing when he was two years old, when he first learned to walk.