Para-table tennis 5 players such as Yukihiro Iwabuchi Nominated as representative of Tokyo Paralympics

Para-table tennis 5 players such as Yukihiro Iwabuchi Nominated as representative of Tokyo Paralympics July 1 17:19

Five players, including Yukihiro Iwabuchi, have been nominated as Japanese representatives for table tennis at the Tokyo Paralympic Games next year.

The selection criteria for table tennis players in the Tokyo Paralympic Games have been considered for review due to the influence of the new coronavirus and due to the suspension of international competitions since March, but at each continental championship held last year. It was decided that the winning player will not change the selection according to the world ranking as of April 1.

On the 30th, the International Federation of Table Tennis announced the players who were qualified for these two criteria.

Based on this, in addition to Japan's representative,
Iwabuchi, who ranked 3rd in the men's world ranking in Class 9 with standing and playing with mild motor impairment, was also classified as
▽ Class 7 with standing and playing with severe motor impairment. Katsukatsu Yagi, who ranked eighth in the world for boys,
▽Kanami Furukawa, who ranked fifth in the world for girls in class 11 with intellectual disabilities , ▽ Akira Takemori, who ranked
7th in the world for boys in class 11 for intellectual disabilities, and
▽ chi Shun Asano, who was a class 11 boy with physical disabilities and won the Asian Championship last year.

Of these, Asano is required to participate in competitions stipulated by the International Table Tennis Federation and be certified for classification.

For the Tokyo Paralympics table tennis, the remaining unofficial players will be decided in the World Final Qualifying held in Slovenia next April.

Yukihiro Iwabuchi

Yukihiro Iwabuchi is 25 years old from Nerima Ward, Tokyo. Following the last Rio de Janeiro tournament, this is the second consecutive Paralympic Games participation.

Since I was born, I have both legs injured, especially my left leg is difficult to attach muscles and my ankle cannot be bent, so I wear a brace that fixes it.

At the Rio de Janeiro tournament, which was his first appearance, he was defeated in qualifying without losing even one game. After practicing humiliation, after graduating from university, he belongs to a business team that also produced Olympic athletes, and by practicing with strong athletes of healthy people such as medalists of the world championship, not only improving skills but also broadening the range of fighting methods. It was

Steadily working, such as winning a bronze medal in the Adult World Championship, we are expected to win the third place in the world ranking for Japanese players and the Tokyo Paralympics.

Mr. Iwabuchi said, "The schedule of the game has been cancelled, but I would like to make use of what was announced in this way to prepare for next year. At the Tokyo Paralympics, it is the same as before. Instead of aiming to be a "gold medal or better", we will send out the fun of para table tennis and once again aim for the best performance that will give you an opportunity to notice the wonderfulness of sports." ..

Katsukatsu Yagi

Katsukatsu Yagi is 30 years old from Aichi prefecture. This is my first Paralympic participation.

From the time I was born, I can't reach because I have a handicap in my arms and my short elbows, but I have a wealth of exercise from my well-trained legs and waist.

Yagi said, “I don't really have the right to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympic Games. However, as a result of trial and error, I wanted to live by doing what I liked and want to live a happy life. I hope my life so far is going well. First of all, I pray for the peace of the world and for all the people in the world to enjoy sports. I would like to play in a way that expresses."

Kanami Furukawa

Kanami Furukawa is 22 years old from Fukuoka prefecture. This is my first Paralympic participation.

A variety of crouching serves to flirt with the opponent, and at the end it is an attack that decides with a strong smash.
Won the bronze medal at the World Championships for Adults.

Takemori Akira

Akira Takemori is 26 years old from Chiba prefecture. Following the last Rio de Janeiro tournament, this is the second consecutive Paralympic Games participation.

He is good at forehand driving, and has an attack style that keeps attacking with abundant momentum utilizing footwork.

Shun Asano

Shun Asano is 18 years old from Nagasaki prefecture. This is my first Paralympic participation.

With a strong and dynamic drive, he won the Asian Championship last year, which was his first international tournament.

Until I graduated this March, I belonged to the table tennis club of a powerful high school in Nagasaki prefecture and have been hone my skills among the healthy athletes.