One week after capturing a historic silver medal in the Volleyball Nations League 2024, Japan's women's national team has finalized its roster for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Head coach Masayoshi Manabe made some intriguing choices, including the decision to have two liberos in the 12-player squad: Manami Kojima and Satomi Fukudome. Akane Yamagishi will serve as the alternate libero for the Games.

Defensive Strategy Pays Off

Manabe emphasized the critical role of defense in Japan's strategy, stating,

"Defense is the soul of Japan’s women’s national team. We have excellent liberos and want to compete against the best teams in the world by using our two specialists in different ways."

Leadership on the Court

Sarina Koga, who will captain the team, and Mayu Ishikawa are among the four Olympic veterans in the squad. They are joined by middle blocker Nichika Yamada and outside hitter Kotona Hayashi. Other notable players include setter Koyomi Iwasaki and middle blocker Ayaka Araki.

Acknowledging the Journey

Manabe expressed his gratitude to all the players who contributed over the past three years, noting,

"I would like to express my gratitude to not only the 18 players who were with us during the VNL, but also to the many who have represented Japan over the last three years. I hope that the 13 players selected carry the feelings of the ones who won’t be in Paris."

Eye on the Prize

After their impressive performance in the VNL, where they secured second place, Japan enters the Olympics with renewed confidence. Manabe believes that this momentum could propel them to a podium finish in Paris,

"After we won the silver medal at the VNL, I think that if our players have the confidence they can beat the top teams in the world, we have a possibility of winning a medal."

Upcoming Matches

Japan, currently ranked seventh in the FIVB World Rankings, will debut against Poland in Pool B on June 28 at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT). They will also face Brazil and Kenya in the pool stage, setting the stage for a thrilling Olympic campaign.

Editor: Yana Davydiuk