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.