Volleyball: Yuki Ishikawa buoyed by Champions League win with Perugia
Ishikawa, who moved from Milan last summer, scored 20 points to help his new Italian team beat Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie of Poland 3-2 in the final in May.
"It's definitely a tournament that will stay in my memory. I'm proud to have become the first Japanese player to win the Champions League," Ishikawa said at Narita airport near Tokyo.
The 29-year-old remained in Italy for a month after the end of the season to do some weight training. He will join the national team in July at its training camp ahead of the Nations League in Chiba, east of Tokyo.
"We'll look to have a preparation that will get us a podium finish," he said.
Ishikawa also had advice for his 25-year-old sister Mayu, who captains the women's national team.
"I want her to fulfill her captaincy in her own way," he said of the Igor Gorgonzola Novara player. "Experiencing the role and making mistakes will help her development."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
11 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Basketball: NBA Summer League experience motivates B-League players
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Having set a target of sending at least five players to the NBA by 2030, Japan's B-League recently put some of its best young basketball talent to the test on the sidelines of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The B-League United select team played four scrimmages in July against teams taking part in the NBA Summer League, comprising mostly youngsters and fringe players competing for NBA roster spots. Although B-League United went winless against the Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers between July 9 and 14, the Japanese players gained motivation to raise their levels. "I realized that the standards I had set for myself until now were very low," said Nagoya Diamond Dolphins swingman Keita Imamura, who has played for Japan's national team. "I have to raise those standards myself." The Las Vegas tour coincided with national team activities, so B-League United was unable to field its strongest possible roster. In addition, it was difficult to call up foreign players of the B-League during the offseason. While pointing out some issues, B-League executive officer Naoya Okamoto, who helped bring the tour to fruition, said, "The players grew (through playing against the NBA teams). We played all four games properly, so that's really good." "We still need to think harder about how to absorb costs and achieve a situation that benefits everyone."
The Mainichi
20 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Japan's Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda pull away from the field at Women's British Open
PORTHCAWL, Wales (AP) -- Miyu Yamashita started and finished with short birdie putts and was flawless in between as she posted a 7-under 65 on Friday to build a three-shot lead over Rio Takeda going into the weekend of the Women's British Open. The Japanese players, both among the top 15 in the women's world ranking, played in the same group at Royal Porthcawl and put on a show in the second round, matching great shots and big putts that left the rest of the field far behind. Takeda was the only player within seven shots of Yamashita. Nelly Korda (72) and rising English star Lottie Woad (70) were among the top 10 on the leaderboard and still nine shots behind at the halfway point. Woad was on the cusp of contention until a triple bogey on the par-4 16th. "There was a lot more good in it than bad," Woad said. "Played really well for 17 holes, just that one hole cost me a bit." Yamashita was bogey-free and did most of her damage with four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn as she took advantage of an early start before stronger wind arrived. "I didn't make any particular adjustments to my swing, but the wind was strong, so I think shots are important, as well as club selection and the direction I aim at the target," Yamashita said. "So things like that are important, so I played while keeping in mind the image I've been practicing so far." Takeda, whose two LPGA Tour titles include the Toto Japan Classic last year before she was a member, was slowed by a pair of bogeys. Takeda atoned for that with a superb approach into the par-5 ninth that settled within tap-in range for eagle. She shot 69. "I was able to play calmly today, and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow," Takeda said. Yamashita, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Saturday, was at 11-under 133. Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland and Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand each shot 69 and were tied for third at 4-under 140, along with American Lindy Duncan (70) and Laura Fuenfstueck of Germany, who had a 71. The cut was at 2-over 146. Brooke Henderson of Canada was right on the cut line until missing a 4-foot par putt on the windblown 17th, and then failing to make birdie on the par-5 closing hole. Also missing the cut were world No. 4 Ruoning Yin (77), Rose Zhang (76) and U.S. Women's Open champion Maja Stark (78). Yani Tseng of Taiwan, a two-time Women's British Open champion and former No. 1 player in the world, shot 73 and made the cut in a major for the first time in eight years. It was her first made cut in an LPGA event since the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship in 2018. Korda remains the No. 1 player in women's golf despite not winning this year, and she now faces a tall order with a nine-shot deficit for the last 36 holes. "Honestly didn't really capitalize on anything in the calmer conditions on the front nine, then kind of got really windy on the back," Korda said. "Made a few more mistakes but bounced back with some birdies. Overall, I'm not going to complain with even par." Woad made the best run at the Japanese duo until one swing and one nasty lie cost her. She had a 3-wood for her second shot into a strong wind on the par-4 16th. It sailed to the right into thick grass. Her first hack moved the golf ball only a few inches. She had to take a penalty shot for an unplayable lie, got that one on the green and two-putted for a triple bogey. She closed with two pars for a 70, a score that otherwise would seem satisfactory. "I'd certainly take it now, but not when I was standing on the 16th tee," Woad said with a smile. "Yeah, just got to try to play well over the weekend. It's pretty packed, so I can move up a bit." Everyone is chasing Yamashita, who led the Japan LPGA money list in 2022 and 2023 while winning five times in each of those seasons. She also finished one shot out of a playoff for the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics last year. For now, she is thinking only about keeping her rhythm in the wind. "I haven't particularly worried about expected scores until now. I'm always thinking about competing for a high ranking in each tournament, and I just played with my day in mind," Yamashita said. "So I'm glad that my score and ranking worked out."
The Mainichi
20 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Swimming: Watanabe runner-up to Qin in 200m breaststroke at worlds
SINGAPORE (Kyodo) -- Japanese swimmer Ippei Watanabe took silver in the men's 200-meter breaststroke Friday for his third career medal at the world aquatics championships. The 28-year-old former world record holder, who stands 193 centimeters, touched the wall in 2 minutes, 7.70 seconds, 0.29 behind China's Qin Haiyang, the current world record holder, in Singapore. "It was a race I could have won," said Watanabe, who was third at both the 2017 and 2019 world championships. "I'm just frustrated. My swim got messy in the end." Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands rounded out the podium with a time of 2:07.73. Japanese compatriot Yamato Fukasawa finished sixth.
