Japan’s top women’s duo Miki Ishii and Megumi Murakami have learned many lessons from tough challenges along their journey, but their partnership was built on a never-give-up attitude that is now paying dividends.
“It has been six years since we teamed up. We spent a lot of time together and had many experiences, not just fun ones. We also went through tough, sad and difficult times. But we are grateful for these experiences because they are precious to us,” Murakami said.
“I got to know myself and my partner better. And together, we were able to move in the direction we wanted to and reach our goals without losing heart.”
“We never gave up and our hearts remained steadfast. We both know that the possibility of achieving our goals depends on us and us only,” Ishii added.
“Whatever it is that you want to achieve, it is important to set your goal first and then work hard towards it. We actually learned and accomplished many things just by trying our best.”
And they have indeed accomplished a lot over the years, becoming one of the strongest pairs in continental and world competitions.
Ishii and Murakami at the 2019 World Championships in Hamburg“One of our biggest achievements was reaching the quarterfinals of an FIVB World Tour 5-star event for the first time. Our goal was to finish in the Top 9, but we did better than what we expected,” Ishii said.
“The Gstaad 5-star in 2018 was memorable for us because we never imagined we could win against the world’s top-ranked teams and it was a big challenge for us to advance to the final day and play in front of a big crowd in a big venue.”
“It was the very first time I felt so much excitement at an event,” said Murakami about her Gstaad experience.
Their triumphs are reflections of their skills and attitude on the court. The two players show respect for each other’s contributions and that makes them a powerful combo each time they step on the court.
“Miki’s perfect 10 characteristic is her speed in movement and reaction,” Murakami said.
“Megumi can do everything and will not give up until the end, no matter what her condition is and how she’s feeling,” Ishii said.
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