Table tennis Koki Niwa Answers found before suffering October 15th, 18:30

As the effects of the new coronavirus continue, many athletes continue to wonder, "What can I do?"


One of them is Koki Niwa, a table tennis player who has been appointed as the representative of Japan for the Tokyo Olympics.

Niwa is trying to find his own answer through an event in Okayama prefecture and look forward.


(Sports News Department Reporter Yuri Yoshimoto)

In a painful chest

September 3rd.

Niwa revealed his painful heart in our interview.

Koki Niwa players


"When you see socially, do not know may have what can contribute sport, If you said to either be able to save the people infected with the new coronavirus, I nor able to save by table tennis"


, "medical personnel I was thinking that we athletes couldn't do anything even though we were on the front line, but in the end it felt like we couldn't do anything. "

The Tokyo Olympics, which had been unofficially decided to represent the team, was postponed for one year, and other international competitions continued to be canceled.


Niwa, who usually has few words and leaves after the interview, was different in this day's interview.


Even if I stood up from the chair, I didn't leave the place and cut it out myself.

Koki Niwa


"I'm sorry. I can't change my mind at all. Now that it's a match, it's quite difficult to strengthen where, and motivation is also difficult."

The role you should play

Niwa has participated in the Olympic Games for the second time in a row and won the silver medal in the men's team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Through playing in the game, he showed his significance of existence and taught children the top skills at events such as teaching table tennis.


Now that all of this is gone, what role does an athlete have to play?

Niwa kept thinking.

In the new world ...

Meanwhile, Niwa visited Okayama Prefecture from September 28th to participate in the training camp of Okayama Rivets, the T-League to which he belongs from this season.

Okayama Rivets is a community-based team sponsored by more than 100 local companies.

Niwa went around the sponsor company as the face of the team and received direct encouragement for the first time in a long time.


In addition, in order to support high school students who lost their goals such as inter-school athletic meet, a one-day tournament called "Youth Dream Match" was planned in which Okayama Rivets players and high school students in the prefecture played against each other, and Niwa also participated.

"Play seriously and convey your abilities"

What can I do now for high school students who have lost the big goal of inter-school athletic meet?

Niwa thought that communicating the power of the Olympic athletes through play would be an ale, so he seriously shot against high school students.


After the match, Niwa said, based on an interview a month ago when he expressed his distress.

Koki Niwa


"The other day, I said that I couldn't find what I should do due to the corona virus, but I thought it would be rewarding for me if I could help high school students even a little. High school students will play against me. It made me happy and made me feel that I was able to contribute a little. I'm glad I came to Okayama. "

To the stage of the battle again

In November, it was decided to resume the international competition for the first time in eight months.


Niwa finds his own answer in the new world of Okayama prefecture and challenges the stage of the battle again.