Latest news with #TokyoGames
The Mainichi
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Table tennis: Miu Hirano to join Super League in China
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's Miu Hirano is joining the Chinese Table Tennis Super League, the Paris Olympian posted on her Instagram on Wednesday. "I'm really happy to participate with Shenzhen University. I'll do my best," the 25-year-old said of her new team, which counts the reigning two-time women's singles world champion Sun Yingsha among its members. Hirano made a second-round exit at the worlds in May in Qatar and later revealed she will be involved less frequently in Japan national team activities. "I want to take on table tennis with a different, renewed mindset. I want to change my environment," she said upon her return to Japan after the tournament. Hirano first played in the Super League in 2016 when she was 16, representing Ordos 1980. She won team silver with Japan both at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and in Paris.
Kyodo News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Skateboarding: Powerhouse Japan welcomes new Olympic age limit
KYODO NEWS - Jun 1, 2025 - 13:52 | Sports, All Despite the potential impact on its medal prospects, skateboarding powerhouse Japan has welcomed the new Olympic age limit restricting competition to athletes 14 and older from the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Governing body World Skate decided in April to institute the limit, which would have ruled some of Japan's previous Olympic medal-winning skateboarders ineligible. Japan's street skateboarding head coach Daisuke Hayakawa has nevertheless endorsed the new restriction against the backdrop of increasingly severe injuries, including ligament ruptures, being reported among growing children in many countries as the technical difficulty of tricks continues to rise. "I think it's a good decision. We can't overlook the risk of children attempting them while lacking the basis (for skills) or being physically immature," he said. Among Japan's record seven Olympic skateboarding medalists since the sport debuted at the 2021 Tokyo Games, Momiji Nishiya won women's street gold in Tokyo at 13 and Cocona Hiraki took park silver at 12, while Coco Yoshizawa was 14 when she triumphed in women's street in Paris last summer. Hayakawa believes the average age of the Japan national team would naturally not go any lower, as the stars who emerged at the Tokyo Games reach their peak years. He added that children's lighter bodyweights are not necessarily an advantage for aerial maneuvers that also require sufficient leg power. While World Skate also mandated a minimum age of 12 for other international tournaments, Japanese organizers kept recent domestic competitions in Kanagawa and Mie prefectures open to future stars aged between 7 and 10. With youngsters often drawn more to the culture of skateboarding than to competition, parents and children at the events did not seem too concerned by the latest developments. "My dream is to skate in a cool way. The Olympics isn't really a target," a 10-year-old at one of the events said. World Skate Japan has decided not to set an age limit for domestic tournaments amid the latest news, its board member Hitoshi Murakami said. "There might be changes in the growing process of children aiming for the Olympics from Los Angeles onward," he said. "We'll think about how we can support children of those ages." The International Olympic Committee started tightening age restrictions to protect child athletes after Russian figure skating prodigy Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. "I believe this change (in skateboarding) is also related to the IOC's policy," said Murakami, who expects little opposition in Japan to the new limit. Related coverage: Snowboarding: 6-time Olympian Tomoka Takeuchi to retire after 1 more season Golf: Chisato Iwai wins 1st U.S. tour title in Mexico
Kyodo News
4 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Skateboarding: Powerhouse Japan welcomes new Olympic age limit
KYODO NEWS - 11 minutes ago - 13:52 | Sports, All Despite the potential impact on its medal prospects, skateboarding powerhouse Japan has welcomed the new Olympic age limit restricting competition to athletes 14 and older from the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Governing body World Skate decided in April to institute the limit, which would have ruled some of Japan's previous Olympic medal-winning skateboarders ineligible. Japan's street skateboarding head coach Daisuke Hayakawa has nevertheless endorsed the new restriction against the backdrop of increasingly severe injuries, including ligament ruptures, being reported among growing children in many countries as the technical difficulty of tricks continues to rise. "I think it's a good decision. We can't overlook the risk of children attempting them while lacking the basis (for skills) or being physically immature," he said. Among Japan's record seven Olympic skateboarding medalists since the sport debuted at the 2021 Tokyo Games, Momiji Nishiya won women's street gold in Tokyo at 13 and Cocona Hiraki took park silver at 12, while Coco Yoshizawa was 14 when she triumphed in women's street in Paris last summer. Hayakawa believes the average age of the Japan national team would naturally not go any lower, as the stars who emerged at the Tokyo Games reach their peak years. He added that children's lighter bodyweights are not necessarily an advantage for aerial maneuvers that also require sufficient leg power. While World Skate also mandated a minimum age of 12 for other international tournaments, Japanese organizers kept recent domestic competitions in Kanagawa and Mie prefectures open to future stars aged between 7 and 10. With youngsters often drawn more to the culture of skateboarding than to competition, parents and children at the events did not seem too concerned by the latest developments. "My dream is to skate in a cool way. The Olympics isn't really a target," a 10-year-old at one of the events said. World Skate Japan has decided not to set an age limit for domestic tournaments amid the latest news, its board member Hitoshi Murakami said. "There might be changes in the growing process of children aiming for the Olympics from Los Angeles onward," he said. "We'll think about how we can support children of those ages." The International Olympic Committee started tightening age restrictions to protect child athletes after Russian figure skating prodigy Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. "I believe this change (in skateboarding) is also related to the IOC's policy," said Murakami, who expects little opposition in Japan to the new limit. Related coverage: Snowboarding: 6-time Olympian Tomoka Takeuchi to retire after 1 more season Golf: Chisato Iwai wins 1st U.S. tour title in Mexico
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Bajrang regrets actions, apologises unconditionally to coach Dahiya
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia has tendered an unconditional apology to wrestling coach Naresh Dahiya for sullying his name during their protest against the then WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Tokyo Games bronze medallist Bajrang, along with Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, had led a protest against Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment of several junior women wrestlers. During the sit-in at Jantar Mantar, in a press interactions on May 10, 2023, Bajrang had said that Naresh Dahiya himself was a rape accused, so he had no right to question their protest. Dahiya had dragged Punia to court, filing a defamation case, saying he has already been cleared of any wrong doing by the court. Punia was issued summons by the court which also granted him bail in the case in the fourth hearing. On May 17 this month, Bajrang tendered his apology to the coach and regretted his action. "I tender my unconditional apology to Mr Naresh Dahiya, for the wrong and insensitive statement made by me against him during the press conference held at Jantar Mantar during agitation in pubic view," Bajrang said in his apology statement, a copy of which is in possession of PTI. "That I deeply regret for the pain and damage caused to the image of Mr Naresh Dahiya, besides pain and hurt caused to the near and dear ones due to the wrong and insensitive statement made by me against him." "That I say that Mr Dahiya is a distinguished coach and has provided his best to the nation. That I once again reiterate my regret and issue a heartfelt apology to Mr Dahiya and his loved ones," the statement read. Dahiya runs an akhara (training centre) for male wrestlers in Delhi's Shahbad Dairy area by the name of Chhotu Ram Vyayamshaala. He has trained CWG gold medallist Vinod (55kg) and wrestlers like Ramesh Guliya (74kg), who had beaten the likes of Sushil Kumar in 2005. Ravindra (65kg) and Abhishek (61kg), who have performed well at the international level, have also been trained by him. "Two or four months before the protest, these very wrestlers were praising the WFI President. Then suddenly, all this happened. There was this allegation by a random guy against me and it was mentioned by Bajrang in his address. I took an exception to that and dragged him to court. "Now that he has tendered apology, I have accepted it. His lawyer had contacted my lawyer to convey the apology. I did not have much to do with Brij Bhushan. I only went to office 3-4 times because you have to go to federation office for work-related things. I just told them that at that time that they will go away from scene gradually but there will be consequences for kids involved. That's it, nothing else." An FIR was lodged against Brij Bhushan and matter is still in court.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Bajrang Punia issues unconditional apology to wrestling coach Naresh Dahiya amid defamation case
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia has tendered an unconditional apology to wrestling coach Naresh Dahiya for sullying his name during their protest against the then WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Tokyo Games bronze medallist Bajrang, along with Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, had led a protest against Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment of several junior women wrestlers. During the sit-in at Jantar Mantar, in a press interactions on May 10, 2023, Bajrang had said that Naresh Dahiya himself was a rape accused, so he had no right to question their protest. Dahiya had dragged Punia to court, filing a defamation case, saying he has already been cleared of any wrong doing by the court. Punia was issued summons by the court which also granted him bail in the case in the fourth hearing. On May 17 this month, Bajrang tendered his apology to the coach and regretted his action. 'I tender my unconditional apology to Mr Naresh Dahiya, for the wrong and insensitive statement made by me against him during the press conference held at Jantar Mantar during agitation in pubic view,' Bajrang said in his apology statement, a copy of which is in possession of PTI. 'That I deeply regret for the pain and damage caused to the image of Mr Naresh Dahiya, besides pain and hurt caused to the near and dear ones due to the wrong and insensitive statement made by me against him.' That I say that Mr Dahiya is a distinguished coach and has provided his best to the nation. That I once again reiterate my regret and issue a heartfelt apology to Mr Dahiya and his loved ones,' the statement read. Dahiya runs an akhara (training centre) for male wrestlers in Delhi's Shahbad Dairy area by the name of Chhotu Ram Vyayamshaala. He has trained CWG gold medallist Vinod (55kg) and wrestlers like Ramesh Guliya (74kg), who had beaten the likes of Sushil Kumar in 2005. Ravindra (65kg) and Abhishek (61kg), who have performed well at the international level, have also been trained by him. 'Two or four months before the protest, these very wrestlers were praising the WFI President. Then suddenly, all this happened. There was this allegation by a random guy against me and it was mentioned by Bajrang in his address. I took an exception to that and dragged him to court. 'Now that he has tendered apology, I have accepted it. His lawyer had contacted my lawyer to convey the apology. I did not have much to do with Brij Bhushan. I only went to office 3-4 times because you have to go to federation office for work-related things. I just told them that at that time that they will go away from scene gradually but there will be consequences for kids involved. That's it, nothing else.' An FIR was lodged against Brij Bhushan and matter is still in court.
