Taking flight at her first World Championship as captain, Ishikawa focuses on guiding Japan with unity
Mayu Ishikawa marked her first FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship as Japan captain with a composed showing in Bangkok on Saturday.
The outside hitter, who made her World Championship debut in 2022 in the Netherlands, stepped into her leadership role by scoring 11 points in Japan’s 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-17) win over Cameroon in Pool H. Her performance included two blocks, reflecting the balance she brings between her scoring and her guidance on court.
“As the team captain, I try my best to take responsibility and lead the team, while also not putting too much pressure on myself and focusing on bringing everyone together,” Ishikawa said.
Ishikawa has been a fixture in the senior national team since 2019, when she made her debut at the FIVB Volleyball World Cup. That same year, she was part of the Japan team that captured the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship title.
This World Championship marks her first as captain, after making her leadership debut earlier this year at the Volleyball Nations League. The occasion underlined her progression from rising talent in 2019 to the figure now tasked with guiding Japan through the tournament in Bangkok.
Japan last won the Women’s World Championship in 1974, making Ishikawa’s leadership role part of a continuing quest to return the nation to the top of world volleyball.
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