At the Tokyo Olympics, Japan, a water polo men, played against Italy in the 4th round of the qualifying league, losing 8 to 16 and losing 4 consecutive games.
Japan, a water polo boy, has lost three consecutive games in Group A of the qualifying league, where 12 teams are divided into two groups and compete, and the fifth or lower group is confirmed.
For this reason, Japan has already missed the quarter-finals where the top four teams are advancing, but on the 31st, they played against Italy aiming for the first white star in 37 years at the Olympic Games.
Immediately after the start of the match, the pace of Italy was set, and the first quarter was pushed to 0-5, but the ace Yusuke Inaba scored a goal at the start of the second quarter, and this quarter added three points to each other. , Finished the first half with 3 to 8.
In the second half, Italy gradually expanded their lead and returned four points in the fourth quarter, but Japan lost 8-16.
Japan, which lost four consecutive games in the qualifying league, will face South Africa on August 2, aiming for the first white star of this tournament in the final round of the qualifying league.
Captain Keigo Okawa "A big problem was found"
Men's water polo, captain of the Japanese national team, Keigo Okawa said, "I shot aggressively, but I couldn't break the Italian wall. It was a match where a big challenge was found."
On top of that, he expressed his enthusiasm for Japan's final match against South Africa on August 2nd, saying, "I want to play a match that makes everyone feel refreshed and end it in a way that will lead to the next." rice field.
Director Hirotsugu Omoto "There was a difference in power with the strong team"
Men's water polo coach Hirotsugu Omoto said, "The match was decided by a pass mistake or a simple mistake in the first quarter. It was a match that made a difference in power with the strong team." Was there.
For the match against South Africa on August 2, he said, "There are many people who are supporting me, so I want to win one Olympic game as a representative of Japan and finish."