The Japanese Wheelchair Basketball Federation have named their team to compete in the 2019 Women’s U25 World Championship.
Japan, who have competed in the previous two Women’s U25 World Championship, will be looking to build on their highest finish so far which was fifth in the inaugural competition in 2011 in St Catharines, Canada.
Only three players from the team have represented Japan on a world stage before; Izumi Zaima, Amane Yanagimoto and Niina Okugawa were all part of the Japanese team that finished 5th in the 2015 U25 Women’s World Championship which took place in Beijing, China.
Japan’s Izumi Zaima, said, “It’s an honour to be selected as part of the U25 Japan national team and it is very important to take part in these Championships as it is an opportunity that only our young generation can experience.”
Japan’s U25 Team Roster
| Players Name | Year of Birth | Classification |
| Izumi Zaima | 1996 | 1.0 |
| Amane Yanagimoto | 1998 | 2.5 |
| Kimi Yoshioka | 1997 | 4.0 |
| Miwako Kanno | 1996 | 4.5 |
| Hotaru Tatsuoka | 1997 | 1.5 |
| Yuri Eguchi | 2000 | 2.0 |
| Yui Ishikawa | 1996 | 1.0 |
| Maki Hagiwara | 1995 | 4.5 |
| Kotone Usui | 1997 | 4.5 |
| Niina Okugawa | 2000 | 1.0 |
| Moe Hatakeyama | 2000 | 4.0 |
| Kanako Yamasaki | 1995 | 4.5 |
Team Staff
Sayaka Yamasaki – Head Coach
Erika Yoshida – Assistant Coach
Jun Nomura – Trainer
Takumi Saito – Trainer
Miho Yoshikawa – Team Staff
Keigo Hirata – Analyst
Nuriya Narita – Interpreter
Image courtesy of JWBF.
