Tatsunori Otsuka interview after match against Slovenia:
"I would have liked to repay, with the result, the trust of those who sent me on the field in such an important match." (๐ญ)
Tatsu: I think it was positive that we were able to make some adjustments during the competition.
To do that, however, I think we need to gain even more self-confidence.
And beyond that, I think it's important to continue winning medals consistently.
-Having the opportunity to compete in such an important match, a medal match, must have been a truly meaningful experience, right?
Tatsu: I think you gain nothing from a medal match if you don't actually participate.
One thing that struck me today wasn't just my serve, but also the fact that I managed to stay on the court for so long.
As a team, I believe the key is building mutual trust.
I would have liked to repay, with a result, the trust of those who sent me onto the court in such an important match.
On a personal level, there were things I managed to do and others I didn't.
But I believe both of these experiences, both the positive and the negative, are indispensable.
As I continue to accumulate them, I think they will increasingly become a part of my strength and growth.
That's why I want to work even harder, so I can receive more opportunities like this.
And when I get them, I want to be able to express an even better version of myself.
-The next event is the Asian Championships. What are your goals for that tournament?
Tatsu: It feels like only a month is left, but, at the same time, a month is also a period of time where you can still grow a lot.
That's why I want to value every single day.
From now on, there will be no more official matches before the tournament.
We may not be able to have the experiences that can only be had in a real competition.
But I want to create, in training, situations as similar as possible to those of official matches.
I'd like to turn every training session into an opportunity to increase, even just a little, my confidence through my performances.
I think this is the right way to use this time.
We'll also have some friendly matches, and they'll obviously be just as important.
I want to approach them with this same mentality.
credit: Kyodo
Going undefeated for 13 matches is already an incredible achievement
Countless unforgettable moments.
This tournament may not have ended the way we hoped, but weโll never stop believing in Ryujin Nippon. Come back even stronger. ๐ฏ๐ต๐ซถ๐ป
#Vnl2026