Bruna Takahashi: the career of Brazil's top female player
Bruna Takahashi is a Brazilian table tennis player born in São Bernardo do Campo in 2000. She played three Olympics, from Rio 2016 to Paris 2024, became the first Brazilian woman in the world top 20 in singles and, in 2026, won the Singapore Smash mixed doubles with Hugo Calderano.
In this article
Bruna Takahashi is the Brazilian woman with the best results in the country's table tennis history. She made her Olympic debut as a teenager, collected Pan American medals and went where no Brazilian woman had gone before, such as the world top 20 and the late rounds of the World Cup and the World Championships.
This page sums up Bruna Takahashi's career and its main milestones. For her current ranking, which changes every week, check the ITTF or WTT website.
Who is Bruna Takahashi?
Bruna Takahashi was born on July 19, 2000, in São Bernardo do Campo, in greater São Paulo, which is also the hometown of Hugo Hoyama, one of Brazil's table tennis pioneers. Table tennis runs in the family: her sister, Giulia Takahashi, is also a professional player.
Like many top Brazilian players, Bruna also plays club table tennis in Europe, in the German league.
Olympics: three Games
- Rio 2016: at just 15, she was the youngest member of Brazil's Olympic table tennis team. She played in the team event against China, facing Olympic champion Li Xiaoxia.
- Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021): she competed in singles and the team event.
- Paris 2024: she played mixed doubles with Vitor Ishiy and, in singles, won her first Olympic match before losing in the second round to Lily Zhang of the United States.
Brazil's Olympic story is in table tennis at the Olympics.
Pan American Games
| Edition | Medals |
|---|---|
| Lima 2019 | Silver in mixed doubles and team; bronze in singles and doubles |
| Santiago 2023 | Silver in singles, doubles and mixed doubles; bronze in team |
She also won the Pan American Cup singles title in January 2024 and has won the Pan American Championships mixed doubles title several times.
Records for Brazil
Bruna has set several firsts for Brazilian women's table tennis:
- first Brazilian woman in the world top 20 in singles, in May 2022;
- world No. 16 in April 2025, the best ranking by a Brazilian woman up to that point;
- first Brazilian woman in a World Cup quarterfinal, in 2025;
- first Brazilian woman in the round of 16 at the World Championships, also in 2025.
How the ranking works is explained in table tennis world ranking.
Bruna Takahashi and Hugo Calderano
One of the most successful partnerships of Bruna's career is with Hugo Calderano in mixed doubles. Together they won WTT Contender Buenos Aires in 2025 and, in February 2026, the WTT Singapore Smash, one of the biggest events on the tour, beating the South Korean pair then ranked first in the final.
Why Bruna Takahashi matters
Before Bruna, no Brazilian woman had come close to the world top 20. Her results show that Brazilian women's table tennis can compete with the elite, and they are a reference for girls starting out in the sport. To learn more about the country's scene, read table tennis in Brazil, or see table tennis for kids if you have a young player at home.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Bruna Takahashi?
A Brazilian table tennis player born in São Bernardo do Campo in 2000. She played three Olympics and was the first Brazilian woman in the world top 20 in singles.
Does Bruna Takahashi have a sister who plays?
Yes. Her sister, Giulia Takahashi, is also a professional table tennis player.
Do Bruna Takahashi and Hugo Calderano play together?
Yes, in mixed doubles. They won WTT Contender Buenos Aires in 2025 and the Singapore Smash in 2026.
How many Olympics has Bruna Takahashi played?
Three: Rio 2016, when she was 15, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
Has Bruna Takahashi been in the world top 20?
Yes. She entered the singles top 20 in 2022, the first Brazilian woman to do so, and reached No. 16 in April 2025. For her current position, check the ITTF rankings.