https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...-muscat-2025-11-17-jan-2025.36330/post-503644
There are still 3 more days before the
announcement on the future direction beside the new head coaches,
but year 2025, at least the very start of it, likely won't matter. This is the first 4-year Olympic cycle in 8 years and there are too many uncertainties to account for. The top priority of every player is to stay healthy for now.
The WR is useless until perhaps 2026.
An update on Niwa's case was given in the JTTA's Council Meeting on 3/15, with a decision likely to be made by June.
The meeting then moved on to the selection criteria for Paris 2024 and LA 2028.
Baba says they want to take their time to decide after the new head coaches assume their positions in April. Konno (the chief editor of Table Tennis Kingdom) pursued and asked if it could be decided in the next meeting in June, to which Baba answered no [note: "It will be difficult," to be exact] and that they hoped to announce it within 2025. According to Konno, in the Athlete Committee report earlier,
70% of players had negative opinions about the selection criteria and selection trials.
卓球 国内大会重視のパリ五輪代表選考「７割マイナス意見」アスリート委員会から意見 (Table Tennis: "70% of athletes have negative opinions" about Paris Olympics team selection with emphasis on domestic competitions)
https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2025/03/15/0018755570.shtml
「多くの卓球ファンは早く丹羽選手のプレーを見たいと願っている」「選手の権利を守るのは誰なのか」 ("Many table tennis fans are eager to see Niwa play," and "Who will protect the rights of players?")
https://world-tt.com/blog/news/archives/256000
先週末の3月15日、日本卓球協会の理事会が開かれた。報告事項として、5月の世界選手権期間中に行われるITTF（国際卓球連盟）のAGM（年次総会）で、2027年（個人戦）、2028年（団体戦）、2029年（個人戦）の開催都市が決定することが発表された。2028年の団体戦には、日本（福岡）、中国、イラク、イタリアが立候補している。また、選出される執行役員には星野一朗・日本卓球協会副会長が立候補し、現在立候補を表明しているのは20人であり、厳しい戦いが予想される。選挙の結果は5月21日に決まる。
理事会後、河田正也会長、星野副会長、馬場美香強化本部長が出席して会見が行われた。冒頭、星野副会長は「丹羽孝希選手のオンラインカジノに関する件は倫理・コンプライアンス委員会で継続審議中である」と述べた。その後、記者の質問に対しては「次回の理事会までは引き伸ばさず、臨時理事会を開き、6月までには決定されると思う。本人との接触はある」と答えた。
星野副会長は続けて「丹羽選手はナショナルチームの選手であり、オリンピアン（五輪出場者）である。社会的な影響を及ぼす重要な人物であり、卓球界にとっても極めて大きな問題である」と強調した。また、他の選手への聞き取りについて馬場強化本部長は「ナショナルチーム、ナショナルチーム候補、スタッフに対しても聞き取りを行い、『やっていない』という結果であった」と説明した。
●―世間の空気などに流されていってしまわないかが心配です。略式起訴という刑事罰に対しての処分なのでしょうか。略式起訴はスピード違反（30km以上のスピード超過）でもなりますが。（卓球王国・今野）
星野 スピード違反とは比較にはならないと思います。
●―私もスピード違反と違法のスポーツカジノが同じとは思っていませんが、協会としてどこで線引きをするのか。刑事罰に対してのものなのか、オリンピアンという彼の肩書に対する処罰なのか。彼はすでに一会員でしかない。（今野）
星野 （コメントが）内容に入っていくのでなんとも言えない部分があります。考え方としては、これまで卓球競技で賭博容疑になった人はいないので、倫理・コンプライアンス委員会に諮られる、初めての事案です。そうすると今までの他のスポーツで賭博容疑で起こったことと比較してどうか。今後、ナショナルチームにいた人が賭博容疑になった時に、果たしてどう釣り合いの取れる処罰になるのかが議論されていくと思います。そこは感情的とか、主観が入らないと思います。
●―コンプライアンス研修は丹羽選手がいる時もやっていたのでしょうか？ また、最近はやっていなかったと聞いていますが。（今野）
馬場 （東京五輪以降）私が強化部長になってからはやっています。強化指定選手に対してはJOCから言われているのでやっています。両監督にも伝えています。
星野 私が強化本部長時代は1年に1回は必ずやっていました。
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
会見は強化に関しての話題に移った。
●―強化本部としてパリ五輪の選考基準の振り返りは？
馬場 コロナの時とは違うので方向は変えなければいけない、選考基準は少し違うのではと言われている。4月に新監督が就任するので、そこから決めていきたい。じっくりと決めていきたい。
●―6月の理事会ではロス五輪の選考基準は出されるのか。
馬場 それは難しいと思います。
●―早い段階で国内選考会をやるのか、やらないかくらいは出せないのですか。先ほどのアスリート委員会の報告の中でも、7割の選手は選考基準や選考会にネガティブな意見が多かったと言われています。強化本部として、世界ランキングで決めるのか、国内選考会をやるのか、これは早く決めないと選手や母体は困ると思います（今野）。
馬場 なるべくそこは早く出したい。今年中には出したいし、できるなら早めに出したい。
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
多くの卓球ファンは早く丹羽選手のプレーを見たいと願っている。
＜卓球王国発行人・今野の私見＞
オンラインでのスポーツカジノは違法である。たとえ丹羽選手がそれを知らなかったとしても、 彼は罪を犯したことになる。しかし、丹羽選手は刑事罰として略式起訴され、罰金を支払った。彼は社会的制裁を受け、その結果収入も減少した。自身の行動を猛省していることも伝えられている。
もし、今回の処分が刑事罰（略式起訴）に基づくものであるなら、今後は30万人の会員が刑事罰を受けたら、同様の処分が行われるべきである。また、元ナショナルチームのオリンピアンという彼のキャリアに基づく処罰であった場合、それも前例になる。彼はすでにナショナルチームから離れた一会員であることを留意する必要がある。
出場停止のような厳しい処分は、プロ選手の生活権や収入に重大な影響を与えるため、慎重であるべきである。オリンピアンに対する処罰を考えるのであれば、丹羽選手が卓球界に果たしてきた大きな貢献も考慮してほしい。
彼のスポンサーや所属企業は変わらぬサポートを表明している。彼自身の卓球への真摯な取り組みを見ているからこその支援だと感じている。彼の魅力的な卓球は多くの人を楽しませてきた。多くの卓球ファンは早く彼のプレーを見たいと願っているはずだ。
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強化本部長の回答は依然として歯切れが悪いと感じる
他社の記者が「パリ五輪の選考基準についての振り返り」を尋ねても、具体的な返答は得られず、4月からの新監督就任を前に強化本部内で議論が進んでいる様子は見受けられない。
中国チームはパリ五輪の後すぐに北京に直行し、即座に総括会議を開いたと聞いている。一方、日本の強化本部は、1月の新監督任命の際に馬場強化本部長が「今後の指針」を述べただけで、具体的な資料が欠如していた。このギャップは何を意味するのか。この期間の空白は何をもたらすのか。
強化本部にはNT（ナショナルチーム）だけでなく、JNT、HNTのスタッフも関わっており、選手や母体の関係者も関係している。彼らにたずねても、総括会議には参加していないと返答された。パリ五輪の成績は前回の五輪よりもメダルの数は減っているし、世界ユース選手権での成績も芳しくない。日本の卓球はどこに向かうのか、何を強化したいのか、「強化本部の存在意義」が問われている。
今年中にはロス五輪への選考基準を打ち出すとされているが、その前に「日本の卓球をどう導いていくのか、パリ五輪の反省と収穫について」語ってほしいし、選手や母体、強化スタッフを含めた討論の場を持つことを切に願っている。
2025/03/18 公開
Last weekend, on March 15th, the Japan Table Tennis Association held a board meeting. It was announced that the host cities for 2027 (individual events), 2028 (team events), and 2029 (individual events) will be decided at the AGM (Annual General Meeting) of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) during the World Championships in May. Japan (Fukuoka), China, Iraq, and Italy are candidates for the 2028 team events. In addition, Hoshino Ichiro, Vice President of the Japan Table Tennis Association, is running for the position of executive officer to be elected, and there are currently 20 candidates, so a tough battle is expected. The results of the election will be decided on May 21st.
After the board meeting, a press conference was held with the attendance of Chairman Kawata Masaya, Vice Chairman Hoshino, and Director of the Strengthening Department Baba Mika. At the beginning, Vice Chairman Hoshino said, "The matter regarding Niwa Koki's online casino is still under discussion at the Ethics and Compliance Committee." Afterwards, in response to a reporter's question, he answered, "We will not hold off until the next board meeting, but will hold an extraordinary board meeting and I think a decision will be made by June. We have been in contact with him."
Vice President Hoshino continued, "Niwa is a national team player and an Olympian. He is an important person who has a social impact, and this is an extremely big issue for the table tennis world." In addition, regarding interviews with other players, Director of Development Headquarters Baba explained, "We interviewed the national team, national team candidates, and staff, and the result was that he did not do it."
●-I'm worried that it will be swayed by the public mood. Is this a punishment for the criminal punishment of summary indictment? Summary indictment can also be applied for speeding (30km or more over the speed limit). (Table Tennis Kingdom, Konno)
Hoshino: I don't think it can be compared to speeding.
●-I also don't think that speeding and illegal sports casinos are the same, but where do you as an association draw the line? Is it for criminal punishment, or for his title as an Olympian? He is already just a member. (Konno)
Hoshino: As the comments go into the details, there are some parts that are difficult to say. In terms of thinking, no one has ever been suspected of gambling in table tennis, so this is the first case to be referred to the Ethics and Compliance Committee. So how does it compare to what has happened in other sports with gambling charges? In the future, when someone who was on the national team is suspected of gambling, I think the discussion will be about how to give a proportionate punishment. I don't think there will be any emotional or subjective feelings involved.
●--Was compliance training conducted when Niwa was there? Also, I heard that it hasn't been conducted recently. (Konno)
Baba: (After the Tokyo Olympics) We have been conducting it since I became the head of the training department. We are conducting it for the training designated athletes because the JOC has asked us to. We have told both coaches.
Hoshino: When I was the head of the training department, we always conducted it once a year.
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The press conference then moved on to the topic of training.
●- As the Development Headquarters, how do you look back on the selection criteria for the Paris Olympics?
Baba: It's different from the time of COVID, so we have to change direction, and it's been said that the selection criteria will be a little different. A new coach will take office in April, so we want to decide from then. We want to take our time to decide.
●- Will the selection criteria for the Los Angeles Olympics be announced at the board meeting in June?
Baba: I think that will be difficult.
●- Can't you at least decide early on whether or not to hold a domestic selection tournament? In the Athlete Committee report earlier, it was said that 70% of the athletes had negative opinions about the selection criteria and the selection tournament. As the Development Headquarters, I think it will be difficult to decide whether to decide based on world rankings or hold a domestic selection tournament, or if you don't decide this quickly, it will be difficult for the athletes and their organizations (Konno).
Baba: I want to announce that as soon as possible. I want to announce it within this year, and if possible, I want to announce it early.
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Many table tennis fans are eager to see Niwa play.
<Personal opinion of Konno, publisher of Table Tennis Kingdom>
Online sports casinos are illegal. Even if Niwa did not know about it, he would still have committed a crime. However, Niwa was summarily indicted as a criminal offense and paid a fine. He received social sanctions and his income decreased as a result. It has also been reported that he deeply regrets his actions.
If this punishment is based on criminal punishment (summary indictment), similar punishment should be given to 300,000 members who receive criminal punishment in the future. Also, if the punishment is based on his career as a former national team Olympian, that would also be a precedent. It is important to note that he is a member who has already left the national team.
Severe punishments such as suspensions should be considered carefully, as they have a significant impact on the livelihood and income of professional athletes. If we are considering punishment for an Olympian, we would like to see Niwa's great contribution to the table tennis world taken into consideration.
His sponsors and affiliated companies have expressed their unwavering support. They feel that this is because they have seen his sincere commitment to table tennis. His attractive table tennis has entertained many people. Many table tennis fans must be eager to see him play soon.
◇◇
The response from the head of the Development Headquarters is still unclear
When a reporter from another company asked about "reflections on the selection criteria for the Paris Olympics," no specific answer was given, and there is no sign of any progress being made within the Development Headquarters ahead of the new coach taking up his post in April.
I heard that the Chinese team went directly to Beijing immediately after the Paris Olympics and immediately held a general meeting. On the other hand, at the Japanese Development Headquarters, when the new coach was appointed in January, Director Baba of the Development Headquarters only stated "future guidelines," and no concrete materials were provided. What does this gap mean? What will this gap bring?
The Development Headquarters is not only involved with the NT (national team), but also with staff from the JNT and HNT, as well as players and those related to the parent organization. When I asked them, they replied that they did not participate in the general meeting. The number of medals at the Paris Olympics was lower than at the previous Olympics, and the results at the World Youth Championships were also not good. Where is Japanese table tennis heading, what do they want to improve, and the "raison d'être of the Development Headquarters" are being questioned.
It is said that the selection criteria for the Los Angeles Olympics will be announced within this year, but before that, I would like them to talk about "how they will lead Japanese table tennis, and what they have learned from and regrets about the Paris Olympics," and I sincerely hope that there will be a forum for discussion including players, the parent organization, and Development staff.
