Japan’s traumatic elimination in the quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Games didn’t demote captain Yuki Ishikawa from his dream of taking his country to the Olympic podium and he confirmed his desire to give it another try in four years, at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
In an interview with Fuji TV, the 28-year-old Ishikawa reacted to Japan’s incredible defeat to Italy in the quarterfinals in Paris, when the Asians lost the match after winning the first two sets and holding a 24-21 lead in the third.
Ishikawa, who had led Japan to win silver at the Volleyball Nations League just a month before the Olympics and helped the team move to second place in the FIVB World Rankings ahead of the Games, took much of the blame for the elimination on his shoulders despite having scored 32 points. After some reflection, he felt the desire to take Japan to the Olympic podium was very much alive inside him.
“I felt that the debt owed to the Olympics could only be repaid at the Olympics,” he said. “So, my stance is to continue to aim for a medal and be the best in the world in Los Angeles 2028.”
