Source: Sipa USA/Hindustan Times
[Saba Sports News] After Park Joo Bong spent 20 years nurturing the Japanese badminton team, the Japan Badminton Association’s repeated cancellations of national team training led to the team becoming increasingly ineffective, prompting Park to resign. On January 21, the newly appointed head coach Hitoshi Ohohori held a press conference in Tokyo, outlining the goal of winning three medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He also abolished the A and B team system of the national badminton team, meaning there will no longer be divisions, only the Japanese national badminton team. Notably, during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Japan Badminton Association had aimed for five gold medals but ultimately secured only one bronze in mixed doubles. Besides Olympic goals, Ohohori emphasized training policies that will focus on three key areas: enhancing individual abilities, developing each player, and strengthening collaboration between players and their clubs, with the long-term goal of building a strong and stylish Japanese team.