In the men's team of the Tokyo Olympics and archery, Japan won the bronze medal by winning 5-4 after shooting off from the tie to the Netherlands in the 3rd place playoff.
This is the first time Japan has won a medal in this event.
After a close battle, Japan won the first medal for a men's group, and behind that was the strategy of director Nobuharu Tanaka.
Order to hit the arrow
On the 20th of last month, about a month before the Olympics, coach Tanaka had already decided the order in which he would shoot the arrows in production.
"I'm thinking of having Kawada in 1st place, Furukawa in 2nd place, and Muto in 3rd place,"
he said as follows.
1st place Kawada
Director Nobuharu Tanaka
"First of all, Kawada is a very
bold
player. Rather than aiming carefully, you can shoot with a fast rhythm, so it matches with time-limited team battles. He is the one who makes the flow. ”
Kawada, who won the bronze medal against the Netherlands, scored 9 or 10 points for the first shot with a good tempo from the first set to the shoot-off. I summarized it.
Especially in the shoot-off, three people have to shoot an arrow within 60 seconds, and Kawada's boldness to shoot an arrow without hesitation is a plus so as not to burden the two behind. I worked.
It played the role of creating the flow first.
2nd place Veteran Furukawa
The key point this time was the appointment of the second most proven veteran, Furukawa.
In the archery world, when a team of three players is played, it is often the case that a player with relatively inferior ability acts as the second player.
The reason is that you can shoot with a feeling of ease compared to the pressure of having to decide a high score first and the scene where the victory or defeat is decided by the last shot.
However, Director Tanaka dared to appoint silver medalist Furukawa, an individual event, to participate in the Olympic Games for five consecutive tournaments.
Director Nobuharu Tanaka
"Even if the 1st place is not good, Furukawa will pick up and connect to the 3rd place well. I want to get in between the two young people who participated for the first time and expect game make-up, and they will definitely get 10 points where they want. That's him. ”In
the scene where the pressure of the 4th set was applied, which was the 3rd place playoff, and if it was taken, Furukawa put 10 points after Kawada's 9 points to put pressure on the opponent and win the come-from-behind victory. I called in.
3rd place Muto with high concentration
Muto called for a dramatic victory by deciding the last shot in the middle while the attention was focused on winning the medal.
In fact, Director Tanaka was a player who had seen growth from the junior generation.
Director Nobuharu Tanaka
"He had a part where he couldn't hide his frustration if he didn't get good results until a while ago. But recently, he has grown a lot mentally. When he came around in the order to decide the game. I think his high concentration force is facing in third place in, we are confident that will do. his hot part should go to be sure the right direction if you work in plus "
of which lasted 26 days from the quarter-finals Muto was inspiring himself and the team with a louder voice than anyone else every time he scored 10 points in 3 games.
As the director expected, he put that passion into one shot and led to a historic medal.
After the match, Director Tanaka's eyes, which welcomed the three players, seemed to be filled with a sense of fulfillment as if he had "stuck in Operation Zubari."
The last shot backed by a veteran word
The last shot of Muto who decided the medal of the men's group that did not arrive for many years.
Before shooting the arrow that took the game, a word from veteran Furukawa called for victory, leading to a perfect score of 10 points in the middle.
Shoot off against the Netherlands with a bronze medal. An unpleasant spectacle came to my mind for a moment as Muto faced the final shot.
"I had a slight defeat against South Korea in my head."
About an hour before this match, Muto's last shot in the semi-final match against South Korea
, which was involved in
the shoot-off, went to 9 points.
If I scored 10 points, it was a regrettable defeat just because I was given a big Venus.
Then, in the match against the Netherlands, we were forced into a situation where not only did we score 10 points, but we also had to put in the 10 points inside the 10 points marked by the Dutch players, which puts extreme pressure on us.
At this time, Furukawa, who sensed the pressure, called out to Muto.
"Muto can do it, Muto can decide firmly."
This is the fifth time for the Olympics, and Furukawa, who understands Muto's feelings painfully because he has overcome many shrines, gave a short, positive word. It is.
When I decided, I got a medal, and when I removed it, I was pushed by a word from my senior, and the unpleasant image of the match against Korea was blown away.
Muto regained his composure and concentrated in front of him, saying, "I have no choice but to do what I can. I will shoot one that leaves no regrets."
It brilliantly scored 10 points and brought a historic victory for the Japanese archery world.