Satomi Watanabe
| Photo Credit: Okay. Keerthivasan
CHENNAI
Just earlier than she enters the all-glass present court docket on the Express Avenue Mall right here on the Squash World Cup, Satomi Watanabe, Japanese high squash participant on Tour, bows to her viewers; a trait fairly frequent amongst Japanese sportspersons.
Humble and well mannered to a fault, the World No.18 and winner of eight Tour titles, is hoping that her efficiency will encourage the juniors and make the game common in her nation. “No one from Japan has entered the top 20 in the world before. And also squash is not big in Japan. I hope the juniors get inspired from my performances,” she stated.
The new seven-point format within the World Cup, in response to Satomi, makes her nervous. The 24-year-old stated: “At 6-6, it is sudden death, but it’s really interesting. I have to get used to it in a couple of days.”
On taking part in on the glass-court at EA Mall, Satomi stated, “its one of the big venues I’ve ever played. It’s a really good.”
Japan will play India on June 15 in a Group-B tie, a contest which Satomi insisted will likely be troublesome. “India is one of the tough teams in the tournament. But we are hoping to win,” she stated.
Squash is just not common in Japan, and with Asian Games developing in 2026 within the metropolis of Nagoya, Satomi hopes squash will likely be included for her to show her expertise in entrance of her house followers. “At the moment, squash is not in the Games. I want to perform well here and elsewhere before the Games and put a strong case for the sport to be included,” she stated.
Asian international locations are slowly and steadily closing in on Egypt although it’ll take time, felt Sakomi, a BSc pupil pursuing Sport & Exercise Science at University of Roehampton, London. “You [India] have Anahat Singh who is doing well at just 15 years of age. I hope Asian countries keep doing well,” she stated.
