A training camp for the Japanese national women’s volleyball team, aiming to participate in this summer’s Paris Olympics, has been held in Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima since April 15th. The players are getting excited as they prepare for the international tournament in May, in which they will be eligible to participate. Daisuke Makise, reporter for the Satsumasendai Bureau: “Practices are being held in the venue with a sense of tension in order to earn the right to participate in the Olympics.” The Japanese national women’s volleyball team aims to participate in the Paris Olympics. The training camp, which has been held in Satsumasendai City since the 15th, will include Shinsuke Ishikawa, who has been active in the Italian First Division since this year, and Ai Kurogo, who will be called up to the national team for the first time in three years. Twenty people are participating, including ace and captain Sarina Koga. There are only five countries left to qualify for the Olympics, and their participation will be determined by the world rankings as of June 16th, when the first round of the Nations League, an international tournament that begins in May, ends. A welcome ceremony was held at Sun Arena Sendai, where a training camp is being held to encourage the players and other officials in preparation for a battle they cannot afford to lose, and special products from Satsumasendai City and the prefecture were presented. Players were also seen wearing headpieces made by local companies, which became a hot topic during the 2023 season when Shohei Otani’s team celebrated home runs in the American Major League. Akane Yamagishi: “How do you like it?” “It suits you!” Koyomi Iwasaki: “It’s heavy!” Sarina Koga, captain of Japan’s women’s volleyball team: “(Satsumasendai City) always has a welcome ceremony like this. Thank you very much for giving me lots of food and providing an environment where I can concentrate on playing.The Nations League will start soon, so the first game will be very important, so let’s start with the first game. I want the whole team to do their best so that we can reach our peak this week.” Masayoshi Manabe, head coach of Japan’s women’s volleyball team, “Our goal is to qualify for the Paris Olympics, so we are working toward that goal.” I want to keep moving forward.” The training camp in Satsumasendai City will continue until the 21st, with open practice held on the afternoon of the 17th and morning of the 20th.
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