{{short description|Japanese para-badminton player}} {{Infobox badminton player | name = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | nickname = | birth_name = | country = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|8|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = Aichi Prefecture, Japan | death_date = | death_place = | residence = | height = 175 cm | weight = 62 kg | years_active = | retired = | handedness = | coach = | event = Men's singles SU5<br/>Mixed doubles SL3–SU5 | career_record = | titles = | played = | highest_ranking = 2 (MS, 16 August 2022)<br/>2 (XD with Noriko Ito, 12 July 2022) | highest_ranking_date = | current_ranking = 6 (MS)<br/>6 (XD with Noriko Ito) | current_ranking_date = 8 October 2024 | medals = {{MedalSport |Men's para-badminton}} {{MedalCountry|{{JPN}}}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{Medal|Bronze | 2017 Ulsan | Men's singles}} {{Medal|Bronze | 2022 Tokyo | Men's singles}} {{Medal|Bronze | 2024 Pattaya | Men's singles}} {{Medal|Bronze | 2026 Manama | Men's singles}} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Championships}} {{Medal|Silver | 2016 Beijing | Men's singles }} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Youth Para Games}} {{MedalGold | 2017 Dubai | Men's singles}} {{MedalBronze | 2017 Dubai | Men's doubles}} | bwfbadminton_id = P96687 | bwfpara_id = 6140AAE1-3A53-4998-A3AC-23683F4609F0 | updated = | module = }}

{{nihongo|'''Taiyo Imai'''|今井 大湧|Imai Taiyō|born 11 August 1998}} is a Japanese para badminton player.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Para-badminton Players: Taiyo Imai |url=https://bwfbadminton.com/player/P96687/taiyo-imai/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=bwfbadminton.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=今井 大湧 （いまい たいよう）｜バドミントン｜パラ｜選手プロフィル｜東京2020オリンピック・パラリンピック｜ニュースサイト：時事ドットコム |url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/tokyo2020?s=profile&id=competition-pg2020_person-imai-taiyo-0001&a=plyBDM |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=時事ドットコム |language=ja}}</ref> He competed in the men singles SU5 event of the 2020 Summer Paralympics.

He won a bronze medal in the men's singles SU5 at the 2017 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parasapo 4 |first=Tokyo |title=今井 大湧｜東京パラに出場したバドミントン注目選手｜パラサポWEB |url=https://www.parasapo.tokyo/featured-athletes/imai-taiyou |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=パラサポWEB |language=ja}}</ref>

== Achievements ==

=== World Championships === ''Men's singles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" !Year !Venue !Opponent !Score !Result |- style="background:#F3E6D7" | align="center" |2017 | align="left" |Dongchun Gymnasium, Ulsan, South Korea | align="left" |{{flagicon|MAS}} Cheah Liek Hou | align="left" |14–21, 8–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" |Bronze '''Bronze''' |- style="background:#F3E6D7" | align="center" |2022 | align="left" |Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan | align="left" |{{flagicon|INA}} Dheva Anrimusthi | align="left" | 13–21, 12–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Bronze '''Bronze''' |- style="background:#F3E6D7" | align="center" | 2024 | align="left" | Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, Pattaya, Thailand | align="left" |{{flagicon|INA}} Dheva Anrimusthi | align="left" | 20–22, 8–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Bronze '''Bronze''' |- style="background:#F3E6D7" | align="center" | 2026 | align="left" | Isa Sports City, Manama, Bahrain | align="left" | {{flagicon|MAS}} Cheah Liek Hou | align="left" | 12–21, 20–22 | style="text-align:left; background:white" |Bronze '''Bronze''' |}

=== Asian Championships === ''Men's singles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" !Year !Venue !Opponent !Score !Result |- style="background:#ECF2FF" | align="center" |2016 | align="left" |China Administration of Sport for Persons with Disabilities, Beijing, China | align="left" |{{flagicon|INA}} Suryo Nugroho | align="left" |13–21, 7–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" |Silver '''Silver''' |}

=== Asian Youth Para Games === ''Men's singles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" !Year !Venue !Opponent !Score !Result |- style="background:#B0E0E6" | rowspan="3" align="center" |2017 | rowspan="3" align="left" |Al Wasl Club, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | align="left" |{{flagicon|INA}} Dheva Anrimusthi | align="left" |12–21, 21–17, 21–17 | style="text-align:left; background:white" |Gold '''Gold''' |}

''Men's doubles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" !Year !Venue !Partner !Opponent !Score !Result |- style="background:#B0E0E6" | rowspan="4" align="center" |2017 | rowspan="4" align="left" |Al Wasl Club,<br />Dubai, United Arab Emirates | rowspan="4" align="left" |{{flagicon|JPN}} Kaito Nakamura | align="left" |{{flagicon|INA}} Dheva Anrimusthi<br />{{flagicon|INA}} Arya Sadewa | align="left" |16–21, 16–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" |Bronze '''Bronze''' |}

=== BWF Para Badminton World Circuit (2 titles, 3 runners-up) === The BWF Para Badminton World Circuit – Grade 2, Level 1, 2 and 3 tournaments has been sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation from 2022.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 May 2022 |title=Para Badminton Tournament Structure Bids for Tournaments 2022 Onwards |language=en |website=Badminton World Federation |url=https://corporate.bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2021/06/03/para-badminton-tournament-structure-bids-for-tournaments-2022-onwards}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=11 July 2022 |title=BWF Para Tournamentsoftware |language=en |website=Badminton World Federation |url=https://bwfpara.tournamentsoftware.com/}}</ref>

''Men's singles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! Year ! Tournament ! Level ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |- | align="center" | 2022 | align="left" | Spanish Para Badminton International | align="left" | Level 1 | align="left" | {{flagicon|FRA}} Méril Loquette | align="left" | 21–18, 21–18 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' |- | align="center" | 2022 | align="left" | Dubai Para Badminton International | align="left" | Level 2 | align="left" | {{flagicon|MAS}} Cheah Liek Hou | align="left" | 11–21, 19–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' |- | align="center" | 2022 | align="left" | 4 Nations Para Badminton International | align="left" | Level 1 | align="left" | {{flagicon|MAS}} Cheah Liek Hou | align="left" | 17–21, 16–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' |} ''Mixed doubles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! Year ! Tournament ! Level !Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |- | align="center" | 2022 | align="left" | Dubai Para Badminton International | align="left" | Level 2 |{{flagicon|JPN}} Noriko Ito | align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Fredy Setiawan<br />{{Flagicon|INA}} Khalimatus Sadiyah | align="left" | 11–21, 21–18, 7–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' |- | align="center" | 2022 | align="left" | Canada Para Badminton International | align="left" | Level 1 |{{flagicon|JPN}} Noriko Ito | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Daisuke Fujihara<br/>{{Flagicon|JPN}} Akiko Sugino | align="left" | 21–16, 21–10 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' |}

=== International Tournaments (4 titles, 7 runners-up) === ''Men's singles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! Year ! Tournament ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |- | align="center" | 2016 | align="left" | Irish Para Badminton International | align="left" | {{flagicon|MAS}} Cheah Liek Hou | align="left" | 26–24, 9–21, 14–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' |- | align="center" | 2017 | align="left" | Thailand Para Badminton International | align="left" | {{flagicon|MAS}} Cheah Liek Hou | align="left" | 13–21, 16–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' |- | align="center" | 2017 | align="left" | Peru Para Badminton International | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Gen Shogaki | align="left" | 21–9, 18–21, 21–19 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' |- | align="center" | 2018 | align="left" | Brazil Para Badminton International | align="left" | {{flagicon|POL}} Bartłomiej Mróz | align="left" | 21–19, 10–21, 8–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' |- | align="center" | 2018 | align="left" | Japan Para Badminton International | align="left" | {{flagicon|POL}} Bartłomiej Mróz | align="left" | 21–14, 21–11 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' |- | align="center" | 2018 | align="left" | Australia Para Badminton International | align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Suryo Nugroho | align="left" | 21–14, 20–22, 10–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' |} ''Men's doubles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! Year ! Tournament !Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |- | rowspan="4" align="center" | 2017{{Efn|This tournament uses a round robin system.}} | rowspan="4" align="left" | Peru Para Badminton International | rowspan="4" |{{flagicon|JPN}} Gen Shogaki | align="left" | {{flagicon|PER}} Esteban Isael<br />{{Flagicon|PER}} César Suárez | align="left" | 21–3, 21–3 | rowspan="4" style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' |- | align="left" | {{flagicon|BRA}} Ricardo Cavalli<br />{{Flagicon|BRA}} Eduardo Oliveira | align="left" | 21–11, 21–7 |- | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Hironobu Kawabata<br />{{Flagicon|JPN}} Tetsuo Ura | align="left" | 21–12, 21–19 |- | align="left" | {{flagicon|BRA}} Geraldo da Silva Oliveira<br />{{Flagicon|BRA}} Genivaldo Duarte | align="left" | 21–7, 21–0 |- | align="center" | 2017 | align="left" | USA Para Badminton International |{{flagicon|JPN}} Tetsuo Ura | align="left" | {{flagicon|MAS}} Cheah Liek Hou<br />{{Flagicon|MAS}} Hairol Fozi Saaba | align="left" | 14–21, 21–23 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' |- | align="center" | 2018 | align="left" | Spanish Para Badminton International |{{flagicon|TUR}} İlker Tuzcu | align="left" | {{flagicon|KOR}} Kim Gi-yeon<br />{{Flagicon|KOR}} Shin Kyung-hwan | align="left" | 23–25, 21–10, 21–19 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' |- | rowspan="4" align="center" | 2018{{Efn|This tournament uses a round robin system.}} | rowspan="4" align="left" | Australia Para Badminton International | rowspan="4" |{{flagicon|JPN}} Hironobu Kawabata | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Gen Shogaki<br />{{Flagicon|JPN}} Tetsuo Ura | align="left" | 17–21, 17–21 | rowspan="4" style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' |- | align="left" | {{flagicon|TPE|variant=Paralympic}} Pu Gui-yu<br />{{Flagicon|TPE|variant=Paralympic}} Yeh En-chuan | align="left" | 21–16, 21–9 |- | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} James Binnie<br />{{Flagicon|ENG}} Antony Forster | align="left" | 21–10, 21–13 |- | align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Sugil Abbas<br />{{Flagicon|INA}} Suryo Nugroho | align="left" | 21–18, 21–13 |}

''Mixed doubles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" !Year !Tournament !Partner !Opponent !Score !Result |- | align="center" |2018 | align="left" |Brazil Para Badminton International |{{flagicon|JPN}} Asami Yamada | align="left" |{{flagicon|JPN}} Toshiaki Suenaga<br/>{{Flagicon|JPN}} Akiko Sugino | align="left" |9–21, 17–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" |{{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' |}

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{BWFB|P96687}} * {{BWFP|6140AAE1-3A53-4998-A3AC-23683F4609F0}} * {{IPC|taiyo-imai}} * [https://www.parasports.or.jp/paralympic/jpc/parispara2024/convention/schedule.html?qrkydpg_paris2024_page=PROFILE-2496792-------------------- Taiyo Imai (今井 大湧)] at the Japanese Paralympic Committee {{in lang|ja}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Imai, Taiyo}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Japanese male badminton players Category:Japanese para-badminton players Category:Paralympic badminton players for Japan Category:Badminton players at the 2020 Summer Paralympics Category:Badminton players at the 2024 Summer Paralympics Category:Sportspeople from Aichi Prefecture Category:21st-century Japanese sportsmen Category:Badminton players at the 2022 Asian Para Games