The Japanese national team for the Tokyo Olympics and Volleyball Men won the final round of the qualifying league on the 1st, and decided to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in 29 years since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Supporting Japan's breakthrough is Yuji Nishida, a 21-year-old who has returned from injury and participated in the Olympic Games for the first time.

At the heart of the attack with high jumping power

Nishida is a southpaw attacker who has a high-speed serve and strong spikes that make use of his high jumping power.


It seems that you can jump on a vaulting box with a height of 1 meter and 40 centimeters without a run-up.

Two years ago, at the World Cup, which he faced at the age of 19, he won the "Best Server Award" by firing service ace against the world's strongest players.


Furthermore, in the 2019-2020 season, in V1 of the V League 1st Division, he won the first top scorer and MVP of a Japanese player, leading his team to the first victory.

Injury just before the Olympics

Nishida has grown into the center of the Japanese national team's attack in a blink of an eye.


However, just before the Olympics, there was a big test.

This year, he sprained his right ankle in the red and white match of the Japanese national team in May.

Furthermore, in late June, when the opening of the Olympics was approaching one month later, it was considered that the left thigh would be lightly strained and the team would take a rest until the Olympics.



"I can fight the Olympics even if I overuse my body,"



Nishida continued to participate in the practice of the entire team with a strong desire for the Olympics.

Resurrection drama shown on the big stage

What impressed me with the resurrection was the match against Canada in the second round of the qualifying league on July 26, the stage of the Olympic Games.


Overwhelming the top powers in the world ranking with power such as serve and spike, 23 points at the top of the team.

As Nishida demodulated, the marks for Ace and Yuki Ishikawa were dispersed, leading to a variety of attacks, and the set count was 3 to 1 to win the game in reverse.

Director Yuichi Nakagaichi, who played a central role in the Japanese national team's attack during his active career, also said, "I was able to explode what I had accumulated in a match under pressure. I squinted at the activity, saying, "Welcome back to Nishida."



Its brilliance was further enhanced by the match against Iran on August 1st, when it was decided to break through the qualifying league.


Final, 5th set.

A scene with a match point of 14 to 13.


Toss, who was entrusted with the long-cherished wish of the Japanese national team to advance to the quarterfinals, went up to Nishida.



"I thought the last ball would come up to me. I was confident that I could decide."



As the word

says

, I dared to swing my left arm and hit the ball on the opponent's court.

The 30th point of the team top.

And the guts pose of the body.


Nishida was at the center of the circle of joy on the court.

In this match, Ace Ishikawa received a severe mark, and Spike's decision rate was only 24%, while Nishida was 56%.

He saved the team by deciding more than half of the toss given.



Nishida:


"It's the first time I've had goose bumps in volleyball. I'm really happy. I'm proud to be one of the players on the team that won the men's volleyball in Japan."




Pain in the left leg He says he still has some left, but he is prepared to keep swinging his left arm for the team and for the people who support him in the quarterfinals.