Mima Ito, who will participate in the third event, said, "I want to grab the gold medals one by one, and I want to finish with a smile at the end." Did.
Six athletes from Japan, including men and women, will participate in the table tennis of the Tokyo Olympics.
The national team responded online before the opening of the Olympic Games.
Ito, a female ace, participated only in groups at the previous Rio de Janeiro tournament, but this time she will participate in three events: singles, groups, and mixed doubles, and is expected to be the first gold medal in the Japanese table tennis world.
Ito said, "You can only open the way to win the mixed doubles first, then win the singles again, and go to the team competition. Open that path and grab the gold medals one by one. I want to take it, and I want to finish with a smile at the end. "
Regarding the match against the rival Chinese player who is competing for the gold medal, he said, "I want to make the Chinese player throbbing. I hope that the match and the result will surprise the whole world in Japan, or that it will be amazing or interesting." He showed confidence in overthrowing China.
Tomokazu Harimoto, a male ace who will be participating in the Olympics for the first time, said, "I'm half nervous and half fun now. I think it's not easy to enjoy because the tension will increase just before, but relax and enjoy the Olympics. I hope I can do it without forgetting to enjoy the stage of the Olympic Games. "
On top of that, based on my experience so far, "I haven't achieved much results on the big stage. I think it's better to be able to play without hesitation like when I was in junior high school. I think momentum is important at the Olympics, so I noticed. It would be great if we could make the tournament so that it would seem that the tournament was over and we had won the gold medal, and we would like to prepare for the actual performance of the explosive power. "
Kasumi Ishikawa "I'm stronger now than I was a year ago"
Kasumi Ishikawa, who is the deputy captain of the Japanese team and will participate in the Olympic Games for the third consecutive tournament, said, "This is the first time that the Olympic Games have been postponed for a year, and I feel that the situation is a little different. I'm grateful to be able to play at the Olympics and to stand on the court more than ever. I think I'm stronger now than I was a year ago. I practice a lot and face a lot of table tennis. It's been only one year, "he recalled, looking back on the year since the decision to postpone it.
Also, regarding being the oldest of the three female players and being appointed as captain, he said, "I want to be the one who can stand up when the team is in trouble, and that will lead to my own growth. I think. If you can trust each other and play 120% of the power that everyone has, you will get good results. I think teamwork is important, and I can do more and more so that I will not regret it. I want to continue. "
Miu Hirano "I have a strong feeling of winning"
Miu Hirano accompanied the team as a substitute for the previous Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and this is his first time to participate in the Olympics.
Hirano said, "The athletes who participated in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics were fighting with a very strong feeling at the time of the game, and I was very surprised. I wish I could demonstrate the experience of being able to go to the Rio de Janeiro Games together. "
Regarding Mima Ito and Kasumi Ishikawa, who are teammates in the women's group, "I think Ito is a very mature person mentally, and although he was born in the same year, he is a player who can learn. It's a team competition, so I'd like to do my best so that I can win together. Since I started to pair with Ishikawa in doubles, I've had more opportunities to talk in my private life, and it's a lot of fun. However, I think it's a good combination because it's easy for me to do, "he responded to the teamwork.
Jun Mizutani "I want to win a gold medal and see what the scenery looks like"
Jun Mizutani, who will participate in four consecutive tournaments, will participate in mixed doubles and men's groups in pairs with Mima Ito, who is also from Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Mizutani said, "Recently, I've been doing a lot of strength training and I've been restrained and my body has rejuvenated. I've had a lot of injuries in the last few years, and I thought my body was a little heavy, but by my efforts, I have the impression that my body has returned when I was in my mid-20s. "
On top of that, "One of my goals and dreams was to win a medal at the Olympics, but I've been here for the past five years with the desire to achieve it at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and aim for even higher levels. I haven't reached it yet. It's a place that doesn't exist, so I want to win a gold medal and see what the scenery looks like. "
Koki Niwa "I want to contribute to Japan by producing one-shot results"
Koki Niwa, who will participate in three consecutive tournaments, will participate in men's singles and men's teams.
Niwa said, "Because I won the medal at the last Rio de Janeiro Olympics, there is a lot of pressure to win this time as well. The teammates Mizutani and Harimoto of the group are very strong, so I will do it more firmly. I have a very strong feeling that I have to do it. I haven't been able to get very good results lately, but since the Olympics are a one-shot game, I have a strong desire to contribute to Japan by producing results. " He showed a strong determination.