Office for Sports Promotion

Open tournaments like this don't usually attract a lot of people, but this time, as it was one year before the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, there were a lot of people in attendance, which I think was really good.

Looking ahead to next year, top players from all classes participated, and there were many very interesting matches, so I think the people who came were able to experience the charm of para table tennis.

It was a disappointing result that I couldn't win this Japan Open.In my experience, there aren't many venues where there are a lot of media and spectators, so in that sense, it was a good image rehearsal for the actual tournament, and I'm thinking about how I should prepare in the future. It was a match that showed us what was going on.

At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Class 9 and Class 10 will be combined (integrated), so for this Japan Open, I will be preparing for the actual tournament by training in Class 9, which is one class lighter than Class 1, to which I belong. I played against players in the ``10'' category.

I think I was able to win against a player with a higher point score than me in my last match, which was a positive outcome for me.I realized that my skills and play could be utilized in Class 1, so I felt a sense of accomplishment and gained confidence.

As for doubles, we haven't practiced enough together yet and we don't have much experience, so I think there is still room for improvement if we continue to increase the number of patterns.

Last time, I was so nervous that I lost my senses, or maybe I just couldn't get into the match itself...Although I practiced countermeasures, I ended up not being able to pull out any of them.Actually, I don't remember much of the details of the match.Before I knew it, the game was over.

Among them, the one that left a particular impression on me was the Belgian player Depos, who I played against in the first match.Like me, it was his first time participating in the Paralympic Games, but I think he had the strength to pick himself up at the last minute even though he was overwhelmed by the unique atmosphere and collapsed.Even though he was under the same conditions as me, he achieved solid results.I think he's really amazing.He is currently number 1 in the world rankings and I think he will be my rival again this time.

I don't remember much of the content of the last match, but it was a great experience in the sense that I learned that the stage I was aiming for was very tough.If it is decided that I will participate in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, it will be my second time participating in the Paralympics, so I am practicing every day while trying to imagine myself playing in that atmosphere again so that I will not be in the same situation as last time.

I went to watch various competitions there, including track and field and swimming.My memories of going to see wheelchair rugby are more vivid than my own matches (lol).Watching other competitions made me realize once again how great and amazing the competition is, and it made me want to stand on that stage again.

With the decision to hold the event in Tokyo, the environment surrounding parasports is changing.I haven't played many matches in Japan, so I think it will be more difficult and tough than ever before.

I believe that by being exposed to the kinds of conversations that top able-bodied athletes have during games and how they consciously practice on a daily basis, I have significantly improved my basic skills.In particular, I think the biggest change for me was being able to experience what top athletes think is ``normal.''

In the past, I was too focused on the part where I had to put the ball in because I didn't want to make a mistake, so I was only looking at the ball.However, top players keep the ball in their field of vision and keep a close eye on their opponent's movements.He didn't have that kind of awareness before joining the company, so it was a great learning experience for him.He started to think that he needed to think more about how he played with his opponents.

Through the experience I gained from playing fast and playing with a variety of balls during my regular practice, I am now able to respond to the slow balls of para table tennis with more leeway.In the past, when an unexpected ball came my way, I would do my best to return it, but now my ability to respond to the ball has improved and I am able to return it with more leeway, so there is not much of a difference in the feel between para table tennis and table tennis. I think.

However, if there are too many paralympic games, I lose my sense of it, so I'm currently participating in a lot of paralympic games, and I think I'm able to play in a very good environment.

The world ranking has also risen from 13th place at the last tournament to 3rd place (as of September 2019.09).In the past, I would beat players who were higher ranked than me, but I would also lose to players who were lower ranked.I think that the fact that I am not missing anything like that now is a part of my personal growth.The world we see has definitely changed.

In the past, I used to be completely focused on what was right in front of me, but now I can think about three things ahead.However, even in a game where we are winning, there are times when the ball gets hard and the ball doesn't go in, so I want to be able to notice such discrepancies as soon as possible and be able to correct them.

My goal is to win a gold medal or higher.

Last time, my goal was to compete, but this time I want to achieve solid results, so I think I need to set higher goals.Winning a gold medal is not an easy task, but because I am looking ahead to what happens after I win a medal, my goal is to win a gold medal or better.I believe that by winning the gold medal, we will be able to further promote the appeal of para table tennis, which will lead to future efforts to popularize para sports.

By participating in international competitions, I have felt the difference in awareness of parasports overseas.I think that awareness of parasports is still low in Japan. When I heard the news that the stadium was packed to capacity at the 2018 Para World Athletics Championships held in the United Kingdom, I realized that even though it has been six years since the London 2012 Paralympic Games, there is still such excitement at para sports events. I was shocked that it continued.

I realized that parasports are recognized as a part of culture in the UK.In order for Japan to become like the UK, I would like to first achieve results this time and connect this to the future of para sports.I want parasports tournaments to be held in Japan on an ongoing basis, and I want more people to know about it.