Have to make a separate post for the reports by Daily Sports since adding this one would go over the character limit.
４年前涙→悲願切符獲得の平野美宇「まだ実感はわいてない」リオ五輪補欠、東京五輪団体から初シングルス代表
https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2024/01/26/0017263401.shtml
初戦こそフルゲームで４－３の辛勝となったが、そこからはギアを上げて５回戦を４－２、６回戦をストレート勝ちと、尻上がりに調子を上げて勝利を収めた。五輪切符を手にし、「自分の試合から少したってから（代表が）決まったので、まだ実感は完全に湧いていない」としながらも「決まったことは事実。すごくうれしい」と感慨を口にした。
１６年リオデジャネイロ五輪では、団体戦の補欠。東京五輪でもシングルスは逃し、号泣した。東京五輪は団体戦で初めて五輪に出場したが、今回が初となるシングルスの代表。悲願達成に「ここまで来るには家族や倉嶋総監督、中沢監督、チームのみんな、周りの支えがなかったら来られてなかった。感謝の気持ちでいっぱい」と話した。
また、準々決勝に向けては「緊張はするけど、ここで戦えていることを誇りに思いながら試合することができた。苦しいよりも前向きに戦うことができた。本番はパリ五輪。過程を勝ちきれるように。１戦１戦を戦っていきたい」と意気込んだ。
He won his first match 4-3 in a full game, but from there he stepped up a gear and won the fifth round 4-2 and the sixth round in straight sets. After securing his ticket to the Olympics, he said, "It was a while after my match that I was selected (for the national team), so I haven't fully realized it yet," but he expressed his emotion, saying, "It's true that it has been decided, and I'm very happy."
At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, he was an alternate in the team competition. Even at the Tokyo Olympics, I missed the singles and cried. The Tokyo Olympics was her first time competing in the Olympics in the team competition, but this is her first time representing the singles team. On achieving his long-cherished dream, he said, "I couldn't have come here without the support of my family, Coach Kurashima, Coach Nakazawa, everyone around me, and everyone around me, so I am full of gratitude."
Looking ahead to the quarter-finals, he said: "I was nervous, but I was able to play with pride in being able to play here. The actual event is the Paris Olympics. So that you can win the process. We want to take it one match at a time."
伊藤美誠、パリ五輪落選で号泣 栄光の東京五輪後は心身の歯車かみ合わず「五輪目標やめとけばよかったと思う瞬間あった」
https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2024/01/26/0017265680.shtml
試合後の会見では終始、涙で声を詰まらせながら２年間の代表レースを振り返り「東京五輪が終わってからは、卓球は大好きだけど（パリ）五輪を目標にするのはやめておけばよかったと思う瞬間がいっぱいあった」と、体調不良やモチベーションに苦しんだことを明かした。
心身の歯車がかみ合わないまま、伊藤のパリ五輪代表レースが終わった。東京五輪で３種目全てでメダルを獲得し、混合ダブルスでは日本卓球界初の金メダルをもたらした第一人者だったが、国内選考会が中心となったパリ五輪代表争いでは後手に回り、ついに完全復活を遂げることなく幕を閉じた。
死力を尽くして勝ち取った２１年夏の栄光の余韻に浸る間もなく、翌年３月からはパリに向けた代表選考会がスタート。「まだ目標を立ててない間に『パリ頑張ってね、優勝してね』と言われて、先に目標を立てられてしまって、わけの分からない気持ちになっていた」。東京五輪の絶対的エースも、選考会ではいきなり５位と出遅れた。その後も国際大会に転戦しながら、選考対象となったＴリーグにも初参戦したが、海外とは使用球やプレースタイルが異なる国内選手との度重なる対戦にアジャストしきれないまま、疲労やダメージが蓄積。腰部の痛みに悩まされ、昨年末から今大会前にかけては咳に苦しみ、それによって肋骨（ろっこつ）にひびが入るなどの不調が重なった。
時間をかけて、パリ五輪でのシングルス金メダルという目標を掲げたものの、選考レースで思うようにポイントを伸ばせず、選考大会の度に涙した。「大事な試合の前にどうしても体調を崩す機会が結構あった。（今大会も）耐えて耐えて耐えまくろうと思っていたが、最後耐えることができなくて、大きな目標としていた五輪は閉ざされてしまった」と唇をかみつつ、「でも最後までたたかえたことは本当によかった」と言い聞かせた。
パリ五輪に向けては３枠目の団体戦代表に選出される可能性が残るが、シングルスでの日本初の金メダルを１番のモチベーションにしていただけに「私はずっとシングルスで優勝したいことを目標にしていて、団体戦に選出されても出るかどうかハッキリ決まってない」と辞退する可能性も示唆。「まずは落ち着いて、どこまで（現役を）やるかをしっかり考えたい。昔からの目標はいいところでやめたいのが１番なので、これで終われない気持ちはすごくあるんですけど、（これで）終わりたいって気持ちもある。でもいいところで終わりたいから、もう少し欲張って頑張ります」と、今後のキャリアについて複雑な心中を口にした。
In the post-match press conference, he looked back on the two years of the national team race with tears in his voice from beginning to end, revealing that he struggled with his physical condition and motivation, saying, "After the Tokyo Olympics, there were many moments when I thought that I should have stopped aiming for the (Paris) Olympics, even though I love table tennis."
With the gears of his mind and body not meshing, Ito's race for the Paris Olympics came to an end. He won medals in all three events at the Tokyo Olympics and was the first player in Japan to win the gold medal in mixed doubles, but he fell behind in the competition for the Paris Olympics, which was dominated by the domestic selection committee, and finally ended without a complete comeback.
Before he could soak in the afterglories of the summer of '21, which he had won with all his might, the national team selection for Paris began in March of the following year. "When I hadn't set a goal yet, they said, 'Good luck in Paris, win the championship,' and I set my goal first, and I felt like I didn't know what to do." The absolute ace of the Tokyo Olympics also fell behind in the selection process, finishing fifth. After that, he continued to compete in international tournaments and participated in the T-League for the first time, but fatigue and damage accumulated due to the fact that he could not adjust to repeated matches against domestic players who used different balls and playing styles than overseas. He has been suffering from pain in his lower back, and from the end of last year to the pre-tournament he suffered from coughing, which caused his ribs to crack.
I took the time to set myself the goal of winning a singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but I couldn't improve my points as much as I wanted in the selection race, and I cried every time I competed. "There were quite a few opportunities to get sick before an important match, and I was going to endure it and endure it, but I couldn't stand it at the end, and the Olympics, which was my big goal, were closed," he said, biting his lip, "But I'm really glad that I fought until the end."
There is still a possibility that he will be selected for the third team event for the Paris Olympics, but since his first gold medal in Japan singles is his first gold medal in singles, he said, "My goal has always been to win the singles, and even if I am selected for the team competition, I am not sure if I will participate." "First of all, I want to calm down and think about how far I want to go. My goal for a long time is to stop at a good place, so I have a lot of feelings that I can't finish here, but I want to end it
伊藤美誠「シングルスで日本初の金メダルを取り、歴史に残したかった」 パリ五輪代表逃す【一問一答】
https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2024/01/26/0017263754.shtml
－８強入りならず。
「私は明日（から）の赤マットでやりたかった気持ちがつまっていた。今大会１回戦からずっとフルゲームで、最終試合が一番勝ち試合だったところをフルゲームにしてしまった。３－３になる前に仕留めるべきだったが、自分の中ではわかっていて、フルゲームになってしまった。（コンディションは）昨年、腰を痛めて気をつけていたが、正直結構体には来ていて、（床が）滑るなと言う部分があったり、でも他の選手は乗り越えている。自分も乗り越えようと言い聞かせたが、（勝利には）たどり着かなかったです」
（体調について）
「五輪のためにＴリーグも参加して、楽しい思い出はたくさんつくれたが、試合の中ではすごく苦しくて、楽しいと思うことが最初は少なくて。楽しいと思えるやり方に変えていって、楽しく試合や練習をできたが、大事な試合の前にけがや体調を崩すことが多くなった。ＷＴＴ名古屋からせきが出ていたが、年始の１月１日にぶり返してしまって、肋骨（ろっこつ）にひびが入ったんじゃないか。息を吸って痛い、寝転んで痛いという部分があった。２、３日前くらいに３割くらいの痛みになって、耐えて耐えて耐えまくろうと思っていたが、最後自分で耐えることができなくなった。目標としていた五輪は閉ざされてしまったが、悔しい経験というか、最後まで戦えたことは良かったと思います」
－五輪への思いは。
「シングルスで（日本勢）初の金メダルを取って歴史に残したかった。東京五輪が終わってからは、五輪を目標にしていても、五輪を目標にするのはやめておけば良かったなという瞬間がいっぱいだった。でも、本当にパリの五輪に出たい、パリって良い場所だなと思っていた。五輪だったらどうだろうと想像できないところがあって、実際に目にしたかったし、みんなと一緒に行きたかったが、その部分だけは悔しい。東京五輪は歴史に残るものをつくり上げたんだなとすごく感じてます。その時は全く感じてなかったが、自分が金、銀、銅をもらったときは、次の日が試合だったので、余韻に浸れなかった。もっと余韻に浸れば良かったと正直思いました」
－今後について。
「私はずっとシングルスで優勝することを目標にしていて、団体戦に選出されても出るかどうかはっきり決まってない。まずは落ち着いて、どこまでやるかをしっかり考えたい。昔からよいところでやめたいと言っていたが、これで終わりたくない気持ちもあるし、終わりたい気持ちもある、いいところで終わりたいので、もう少し頑張ります（涙で言葉を詰まらせる）」
- Did not make it to the top eight.
``I had the feeling that I wanted to play on the red mat tomorrow (starting).I played a full game from the first round of this tournament, and even though the last game was the winning game, I turned it into a full game.3-3. I should have finished it before it got to 3, but I knew it in my head and ended up playing a full game. (As for my condition) I hurt my lower back last year so I had to be careful, but to be honest, my body hasn't gotten much better. There were times when I was told not to slip (on the floor), but the other players were able to overcome it.I told myself to overcome it too, but I couldn't achieve victory.''
(About physical condition)
``I participated in the T-League for the Olympics, and I made a lot of fun memories, but the matches were really tough and there wasn't much fun at first. Although I was able to practice and practice, I often got injured or felt unwell before important matches.I started coughing at WTT Nagoya, but it came back on January 1st of the new year, and my ribs started to get worse. I think there may have been a crack in the joint.It hurt when I took a breath, and when I laid down, it hurt.About 2 or 3 days ago, the pain was about 30% worse, and I thought I'd just endure it and endure it. But in the end, I couldn't hold back anymore.My goal of the Olympics was now closed, but I think it was a frustrating experience, and I'm glad I was able to fight until the end.''
-What are your thoughts on the Olympics?
"I wanted to make history by becoming the first (Japanese team) to win a gold medal in singles. After the Tokyo Olympics ended, I realized that even though I had set my sights on the Olympics, I should have stopped making the Olympics my goal. But I really wanted to go to the Olympics in Paris, and I thought Paris was a great place.There were places I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be at the Olympics, and I wanted to see it for myself, and be with everyone. I really wanted to go to the Olympics, but I regret that part.I really feel that we created something that will go down in history at the Tokyo Olympics.At that time, I didn't feel it at all, but when I won gold, silver, and bronze... The game was the next day, so I couldn't soak in the afterglow.To be honest, I wish I could have soaked in the afterglow more.''
-About the future.
"My goal has always been to win the singles championship, and even if I am selected for the team tournament, I am not sure whether I will participate or not. First, I want to calm down and think carefully about how far I want to go. I have always said that I want to quit at a good point. However, I don't want it to end like this, but I also want it to end on a good note, so I'll try a little harder (choking up with tears).
五輪切符の平野美宇が涙「卓球が嫌いで、逃げたかった」４年前の地獄の日々乗り越え初のシングルス切符「自分を変えられた」
https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2024/01/26/0017265491.shtml
パリ五輪代表選考の最終対象大会となる女子シングルス４～６回戦が行われた。残り１枠を争っていた２番手の平野美宇（２３）＝木下グループ＝は３連勝で準々決勝に進出。平野の試合終了後、３番手で追っていた伊藤美誠（スターツ）が６回戦で木村香純（トップ名古屋）に逆転負けを喫し、平野にとって初のシングルスでの五輪代表が確実となった。プレッシャーに押しつぶされて地獄のような日々を過ごした４年前の東京五輪代表選考レースを踏まえ、「自分を変えることができた」と感慨にふけった。
初戦からの苦しい試合を乗り越えた後、吉報が待っていた。一騎討ちのライバルが敗退したことで、パリ五輪代表争いは完全決着。喜びの記者会見に臨んだ平野は、目に涙を浮かべながら「五輪は小さい頃からの目指してきた舞台。リザーブ（補欠）だったり、前回はギリギリの所で（シングルス代表争いに）負けたり、何回も何回もギリギリの所で落ちてきた自分でも、こうやってめげずに根性でやれば夢は叶うかもというのを見せられた」と晴れやかに語った。
補欠として帯同した１６年リオデジャネイロ五輪の後、画期的な高速卓球で「ハリケーン」として一世を風靡。東京五輪への代表レースは序盤リードしながらも、最終盤に石川佳純との直接対決に敗れてシングルス切符を逃した。１年間の代表争い中は過酷なプレッシャーに襲われ、メンタルに不調をきたし、当時在籍していたエリートアカデミーの自室でふさぎ込んだ日もある。
「４年前の選考では卓球が１番嫌いで、逃げたくて、背を向けたくて、毎日どうやって現実逃避できるかを考えていた。最後、石川選手と戦う時は逃げたくてたまらなかったが、今回は最後まで逃げずに戦うことができた。４年前から成長できたかなと思う。東京の時は本当に苦しくて、寝られなかったが、今回は昨日も寝ることができたし、１つ１つ成長した。人間的にも、自分で言うのもあれですけど（笑）、大人になれたかなと」
今大会も４年前からの変化を象徴する戦いぶりだった。初戦からいきなりフルゲームの苦境。１６歳の面手凜の勢いに飲まれかけたが、泥くさく気迫を出しながら４－３と競り勝った。「（今回の選考レースは）東京五輪の時には味わわなかった年下選手が向かってくる難しさはあったが、自分からつかみにいかないと、と真剣に思って、自分を変えることができた。前回達成できなかったシングルスの座を獲得できたことは、１つ自分の中で（課題を）乗り越えられたんじゃないかと思う」。かつて天然キャラでも親しまれた天才少女は、立派な世界のトッププレーヤーとして、自らの意志で夢をつかみ取った。
The 4th to 6th rounds of the women's singles tournament, which is the final tournament for selection for the Paris Olympics, were held. Second place Miu Hirano (23) from the Kinoshita group, who was competing for the remaining spot, advanced to the quarterfinals with three consecutive wins. After Hirano's match, Mima Ito (Starts), who was chasing her in third place, suffered a come-from-behind loss to Kasumi Kimura (Top Nagoya) in the sixth round, securing Hirano's first singles appearance on the Olympic team. ``She was able to change herself,'' she said, reflecting on the race to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics four years ago, when she was crushed by pressure and had a hell of a time.
After she overcame a tough first match, good news awaited her. With the elimination of their one-on-one rival, the race to represent them at the Paris Olympics is completely over. Hirano, who attended the press conference with joy, said with tears in her eyes, ``The Olympics is the stage I've been aiming for since I was little. "It showed me that even though I've fallen on the edge many times, if I don't give up and persevere, I can make my dreams come true," he said beamingly.
After the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where he accompanied her as a substitute, she became known as the ``Hurricane'' for her groundbreaking high-speed table tennis. Although she led in the early stages of her representative race to the Tokyo Olympics, she lost a head-to-head battle with Kasumi Ishikawa in the final stage and missed out on a singles ticket. During her one-year competition for the national team, she was under severe pressure, which caused her mental health to deteriorate, and there were days when she was stuck in her room at the Elite Academy where she was enrolled at the time.
``During the selection four years ago, I hated table tennis the most, I wanted to run away, I wanted to turn my back on you, and I was thinking about how I could escape reality every day.When I fought against Ishikawa at the end, I really wanted to run away, but... This time I was able to fight until the end without running away. I think I've improved from four years ago. When I was in Tokyo, it was really painful and I couldn't sleep, but this time I was able to sleep yesterday as well, and I've grown step by step. As a person, if I may say so myself (lol), I think I've become an adult."
This year's competition also symbolized the changes from four years ago. From the first match, it was suddenly a full-game struggle. She was almost overwhelmed by the momentum of 16-year-old Menterin, but she showed great determination and won 4-3. ``(This selection race) was difficult because there were younger athletes coming towards me, which I didn't experience at the Tokyo Olympics, but I seriously thought that I had to take the lead and was able to change myself. .I think the reason I was able to win the singles spot, which I couldn't achieve last time, was because I was able to overcome one (issue) within myself.'' The genius girl, who was once loved for her natural character, has achieved her dreams with her own will as a top player in her own world.
