Noriko Nakayama is a former Japanese badminton

Badminton

Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...

 player, the first true international badminton star from that nation, who won numerous Japanese national

Japanese National Badminton Championships

The Japanese National Badminton Championships is a tournament organized to crown the best badminton players in Japan.-Past winners:-External links:* Kyōto-fu Badminton Kyōkai:...

 and major international titles from the mid 1960's to the early 1970s. She claimed seven of these at the Danish Open

Denmark Open

The Denmark Open, or formerly known as Danish Open, is an annual badminton tournament held in Denmark and organized by Danmarks Badminton Forbund.- History :...

, two in singles and five in women's doubles. At the prestigious All-England Championships

All England Open Badminton Championships

The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...

 she shared the women's doubles title with compatriot and singles rival Hiroe Yuki

Hiroe Yuki

was a Japanese badminton player. She won numerous major international titles from the late 1960s to the late 1970s.- Persons :...

 in 1971, and won the singles title in 1972 having previously lost twice in the finals. She also won the women's singles event at the Olympic Games Demonstration in 1972

Badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics

Badminton was one of two demonstration sports at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. It was the first time that the sport was part of the Olympic program, and it would become an official Olympic sport 20 years later at the 1992 Summer Olympics....

. In four successive Uber Cup

Uber Cup

The Uber Cup, sometimes called the World Team Championships for Women, is a major international badminton competition contested by women's national badminton teams. First held in 1956-1957 and contested at three year intervals, it has been contested every two years since 1984 when its scheduled...

 (women's international team) competitions, between 1965 and 1975 she was unbeaten in singles, thus leading the way to three world team titles for Japan

Japan national badminton team

The Japan national badminton team represents Japan in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup*1964 - Semi-finalist *1967 - Final round...

.