＜T League NOJIMA CUP 2022 Date: August 13-14 Venue: Tokkei Security Hiratsuka General Gymnasium＞
On the 12th, the men’s press conference of “T League NOJIMA CUP 2022” was held, Sho Sone (TT Saitama）、Takaki Niwa（Okayama Rivets）、Tomokazu Harimoto（Ryukyu Astida), Daito Shinozuka (Kinoshita Meister Tokyo) attended and answered questions from the press.
4 male players (Sho Sone, Koki Niwa, Tomokazu Harimoto, Daito Shinozuka) press conference
Enthusiasm for this tournament
Niwa:We only have strong players, so I think we’ll be the same no matter who we play against. First of all, I would like to do my best to win two games tomorrow and stay until the final day.
Shinozuka:I will do my best with the intention of playing boldly regardless of who my opponent is.
Photo: Sho Sone (TT Saitama) / Photo: Rally’s Editorial Department
Sone:I was the opponent (Yokoya) who lost in the last match, so this time I would like to tackle each match with a challenger spirit.
Harimoto:I will do my best to aim for the championship.
Lessons learned and challenges from international competitions, and things to watch out for at domestic competitions
Harimoto:Just the other day, I came back from overseas for the first time in two months, and experienced both good and bad results. Especially in Hungary, I was able to win an individual match for the first time in a while, and I still remember the feeling of that moment. In this tournament, I will never forget my desire to challenge myself, and I will do my best without giving up until the last ball.
Sone:I haven’t played in overseas matches, but I have to beat players who are in (overseas) matches. First of all, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a match, so I want to do my best.
Photo: Daito Shinozuka (Kinoshita Meister Tokyo) / Photo: Rally’s Editorial Department
Shinozuka:I’ve been practicing a lot until today because I’ve been able to find a lot of things to do with a lot of matches abroad. I would like to do my best this time so that I can show it.
Niwa:International competitions and domestic competitions have different ways of fighting, and domestic players are accustomed to my good serve and receive and become a rally. I would like to play.
It is the first match after the transfer, but what is the point against Matsushima in the first match?
Harimoto:I am very excited to be able to play in the Ryukyu Astida uniform for the first time this year. I would like to come.
What adjustments are you making for the domestic market?
Photo: Tomokazu Harimoto (Ryukyu Astida) / Photo: Rally’s Editorial Department
Harimoto:There will be no change, either emotionally or tactically. If I had to change it a little, it would be how I can play the match thinking that my opponent is superior to me. I was able to do that at the last selection meeting, so I want to remember the same feeling again.
About the Paris Olympics
Harimoto:If I can win even one match in front of me, I think the Olympics will naturally come closer, so my number one priority is to win any match against any opponent.
Sone:I also think that I will be able to participate in the Olympics as a result of winning one match at a time in the selection race, not just watching the Paris Olympics, so I would like to do my best in each match.
Shinozuka:Personally, I want to seriously aim for the Paris Olympics, and I want to do my best not only in competitions but also in practice.
Photo: Koki Niwa (Okayama Rivets) / Photo: Rally’s Editorial Department
Niwa:I don’t think much about the Paris Olympics, so I want to do my best in each match at this tournament.
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