Satomi Watanabe

Despite never capturing a World or British Junior Open title, Japan’s Satomi Watanabe enjoyed a successful junior career, picking up Penang, Hong Kong and U.S Junior Open titles on multiple occasions. 

After reaching her first Platinum event quarter final in Hong Kong in 2022, Watanabe backed that up in the next season before claiming her first significant event win came at the Optasia Championships - a Bronze event. The Japanese No.1 then reached two Gold event finals as well as a quarter final appearance in the 2025 World Championships, resulting in her achieving a highest ranking of World No.6 in June 2025.