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Japan's Surfing Olympians Prepare for Paris

Puerto Rico, Mar 04, 2024 (News On Japan) - Japan has secured 4 spots for surfing events in this year's Paris Olympics, with the results of the World Surfing Games determining three men and one woman surfer have qualified.

Japan's Surfing Olympians Prepare for Paris

The World Games, considered the world championship of surfing, took place in Puerto Rico and included three male and three female competitors from Japan. Among them, Tokyo Games bronze medalist Yumitsu Tsuzuki was eliminated in the sixth round of the repechage, and Tokyo Games representative Mahina Maeda was defeated in the fourth round of the repechage, with neither securing a spot in the Olympics.

As a result, the only female surfer from Japan to compete in the Paris Olympics will be Shino Matsuda, who has already been confirmed for the team. On the male side, where Japan has three spots, Tokyo Games silver medalist Kanoa Igarashi and Reo Inaba, both already selected for the team, were eliminated in the repechage rounds. Connor O'Leary, who was born in Australia to a Japanese mother and is vying for the remaining Olympic slot, also failed to advance past the fourth round of the repechage, missing out on a direct qualification from this event. The final selection for Japan's remaining male slot, which includes O'Leary, will be determined based on the results of this competition and other criteria.

Source: NHK

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In 2006, these teams met for the first time at the world’s biggest football tournament. Back then, you could bet on Brazil to win at odds of 1.28 and hardly worry about the outcome.

Japan delivered their strongest performance of the World Cup so far with a 4-0 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey on June 21, moving to four points in Group F and putting themselves in a strong position to reach the knockout stage ahead of their final group match against Sweden.

Japan's national soccer team arrived in Monterrey, Mexico, after holding a mostly closed training session near Nashville, Tennessee, on June 18 as it prepares for a key Group F match against Tunisia on June 20 local time, or June 21 in Japan, at Monterrey Stadium.

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When Japan faces Tunisia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 1 p.m. local time on June 20 (3 a.m. Japan time on June 21), the Samurai Blue will have an opportunity to take a major step toward the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.