In an interview with Fuji TV, the star outside hitter explained how the frustration of Paris 2024 motivated him to continue with his country’s national team
After taking a few days to digest Japan’s frustrating elimination in Paris, Ishikawa confirmed his desire to continue with the team
Japan’s traumatic elimination in the quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Games didn’t demote captain Yuki Ishikawa from his dream of taking his country to the Olympic podium and he confirmed his desire to give it another try in four years, at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
In an interview with Fuji TV, the 28-year-old Ishikawa reacted to Japan’s incredible defeat to Italy in the quarterfinals in Paris, when the Asians lost the match after winning the first two sets and holding a 24-21 lead in the third.
Ishikawa, who had led Japan to win silver at the Volleyball Nations League just a month before the Olympics and helped the team move to second place in the FIVB World Rankings ahead of the Games, took much of the blame for the elimination on his shoulders despite having scored 32 points. After some reflection, he felt the desire to take Japan to the Olympic podium was very much alive inside him.
“I felt that the debt owed to the Olympics could only be repaid at the Olympics,” he said. “So, my stance is to continue to aim for a medal and be the best in the world in Los Angeles 2028.”
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In the interview, the Japanese star also revealed how a somewhat similar situation he watched during the Games, but with a different outcome, helped him reflect on what went wrong for Japan not being able to close the match against the Italians.
“We lost because we couldn’t score one point and that reminded me how important every single point is,” the captain explained. “I was frustrated after that, but I kept watching the Olympics and I was watching when the basketball match between the United States and Serbia in the semifinals was also decided by just a few points. I noticed that Stephen Curry, who scored the final points for the Americans, was smiling and enjoying that moment. When I look back at our match against Italy, I realize that I wasn’t really enjoying it. Perhaps I should have also believed in myself more.”
Ishikawa’s announcement of his permanence in the national team is great news to Japan, who saw middle blockers Kentaro Takahashi and Akihiro Yamauchi both confirm the end of their international careers after Paris 2024. Star opposite Yuji Nishida decided to take a break from the national team, but hasn’t ruled out a return in time to represent the country in Los Angeles.
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