Yuki Ishikawa (29, Milan) will serve as captain of the Japanese men's national team for the 33rd Paris Summer Olympics in France.
Japan, ranked fourth in the world, held a press conference on May 7 at the opening ceremony of the national team for the Paris Olympics. The Volleyball Association introduced Ishikawa Yuki as its captain.
The men's volleyball tournament of the 2024 Paris Olympics will kick off on July 28. Japan has gained momentum by breaking the best records in the two tournaments in succession, ranking second in the 15th World Cup in 2023 and third in the 5th Nations League. 스포츠토토
Yuki Ishikawa shone as the best player in the 2018-18 season's best seven and the third place in the 2023-24 playoffs in Serie A1 (first division), Italy, ranked first in the European Volleyball Federation (CEV) rankings.
In an interview with his captain, Yuki Ishikawa said, "I am confident that Japan has the capacity to win a medal at the Paris Olympics. I will put my everything on the line to win the gold medal."
Japan has not advanced to the semifinals since fourth place at the 21st Montreal Games in Canada in 1976 with the bronze medal at the 18th Tokyo Games in Japan in 1964 and the silver medal at the 19th Mexico City Games in 1968.
Yuki Ishikawa expressed his aspiration to join the top three beyond entering the top four. "Standing on the podium at the Paris Olympics is a realistic enough challenge (not a low-stakes commitment). I'm not the only one who thinks that, but all my national team members are setting the same goal," he said, introducing the mood of the team.
In the 5th Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Nations League in 2023, when Japan won the TOP3, Yuki Ishikawa won three gold medals, including the top scorer, the best seven, and was recognized as a world class in name and reality.
Yuki Ishikawa said, "Every country playing volleyball must have felt scared of the Japanese national team," predicting that the meaning and effect of the best performance in the history of the Nations League will continue until the Paris Olympics.
Last year, Ishikawa Yuki even won the MVP award of the 22nd Asian Volleyball Federation (AVC) Championship, showing off her peak performance. Leading Milan to the third place in Serie A1, which is the best since its foundation, is also very positive for Japan ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Yuki Ishikawa has displayed not only offense but also defense capability on the world No. 1 stage in volleyball, including the 2021-22 Italian League Cup receiving champion. This is the leadership by example, in which no one has raised objection to his appointment as captain of the Japanese national team for the Paris Olympics.