Comments from NAITO Minori (JPN) after Japan (JPN) beat China (CHN) 4-0

SHAOXING – Comments from NAITO Minori (JPN) after Japan (JPN) beat China (CHN) 4-0 in the softball gold medal match at Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Centre on Monday.

NAITO Minori (JPN) – gold

On the match:
“As we wanted to achieve the sixth win in row, I really wanted to win this tournament. We had a really good match, so I am satisfied.”

On her home-run hit:
“I think that the ball was straight but slightly curving. It was the first inning and I wanted to make sure to relay to the next player. So I swung compactly.

“I was watching the pitcher a day before yesterday. I got her pitches into my mind. I could have properly waited the best opportunity to swing.”

On the Japanese pitchers:
“Not only today, but Japan is always defensive and pitcher-led team. So I wanted to score in the early innings. Despite having such great pitchers in our team, we shouldn’t rely on them. I was playing with the thought and it led us to the result.”

On the pressure on her due to Japan’s winning streak:
“I feel a lot. I participated in the 2018 Games when I was still young. Our senior members played really well (at the Games). I am now here at a senior player and I am happy to be here. Having said that, I feel pressure too. As such, it was all good as my teammates were putting on a pleasant face and playing well.”

On her next goal:
“We have the world championships next year. I want to focus on that to make sure to build a team that can play well against our opponents at the championships.”

HAOXING – More comments from GOTO Miu (JPN) after Japan (JPN) beat China (CHN) 4-0 in the softball gold medal match at Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Centre on Monday.

GOTO Miu (JPN) – gold

On her contribution to the team:
“This is my first Asian Games. I only played in one of Japan’s six wins (at these Games, which was the final). ”

” I hail from Aichi prefecture (home of 2026 Asian Games host city Nagoya) so it will be my home Games. I would like to grow a little bit more to contribute there.”

On what she has learned from the Games:
“By participating here, I experienced a lot of things, such as staying in the (Athletes’) Village. Things (here) are similar to the Olympic Games.”

“The Chinese team is strong and they staged this Asian Games on a large scale. It felt like the Olympic Games.

“I would like to (say) that the Games are a fun place to play (for) people who aim to play on a stage of this scale.”

On her goal:
“I have my own role. That is different to the role of UENO Yukiko (Japan’s veteran staring pitcher). I used to be a relief pitcher (but) I want to become astarting pitcher who can get credit for the victories and contribute to the team’s win.”

SHAOXING – Comments from GOTO Miu (JPN) after Japan (JPN) beat China (CHN) 4-0 in the gold medal match at Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Centre on Monday.

GOTO Miu (JPN) – gold

On her experience at the Games:
“I have learnt from every single match and have grown a lot from them.”

On the Chinese team’s batting:
“The Chinese batting was very compact. The balls I pitched and China hit were a little bit high. That is why they can drop in front of the centre field even though they are cramped (in their swing). International players are powerful. I realised I need to study these kinds of areas.”

On watching the match after she was substituted by UENO Yukiko (JPN):
“UENO can build a sense of security. When I was pitching, I was thinking as though UENO was with us, and the feeling gave me a sense of relief.

“Since I was substituted by UENO, I was watching the match with peace of mind.”

“SHAOXING – Comments from UENO Yukiko (JPN) after Japan (JPN) beat China (CHN) 4-0 in the softball gold medal match at Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Centre on Monday.

UENO Yukiko (JPN) – gold

On her sixth consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games:
“Honestly, I am relieved.”

On Japan’s starting pitcher GOTO Miu (JPN):

“GOTO was stable from the first inning. I was watching her pitches in peace.”

“I would like her (GOTO) to be able to go the full distance and take a title as a Japanese ace pitcher.”

SHAOXING – Comments from Philippines team captain Francesca ALTOMONTE (PHI) after Chinese Taipei (TPE) beat the Philippines (PHI) 3-2 in the softball bronze medal match at Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Centre on Monday.

Francesca ALTOMONTE (PHI) – captain

On bouncing back from the loss:
“I’m proud of the team. It was a long, long journey coming here. We know there are a lot of things that we wanted, but in the end, we now know what needs to happen for us to get it the next time.

“We need to keep our chin up; we have nothing to be ashamed of.”

SHAOXING – Comments from CHIU An Ju (TPE) after Chinese Taipei (TPE) beat the Philippines (PHI) 3-2 in the softball bronze medal match at Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Centre on Monday.

CHIU An Ju (TPE) – bronze

On her emotions after claiming the bronze medal:
“I am definitely very excited, and I feel that I must hold on to this feeling.

“I feel moved because this could be my last tournament.”

On her teammates:
“Every time before I go on the field, I always want to turn around and look at my teammates. This makes me feel more at ease.”

SHAOXING – Comments from SU Yi Hsuan (TPE) after Chinese Taipei (TPE) beat Philippines (PHI) 3-2 in the softball bronze medal match at Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Centre on Monday.

SU Yi Hsuan (TPE) – bronze

On scoring the Philippines’ first run:
“We were initially behind, so scoring the first point (run) boosted our momentum and put pressure on the opponents. We worked hard to actively attack all pitches and get on first base.”

On her experience at the Asian Games:
“Everyone has worked hard for so long. The results we achieved may not be what we had envisioned, but I believe our performance has pleasantly surprised many fellow players.

“It was exciting to compete against teams like Japan and China until the very end. It is only natural to feel a bit disappointed because we all wanted to win.”

On what she will do in her free time after the tournament:
“I hope to explore Hangzhou and learn more about it. After all, we have just been travelling between the athlete’s village and the stadium, and we haven’t had the chance to try the local cuisine or find any souvenirs. So, I would like to go out and take a stroll.”

SHAOXING – Comments from Skylynne Kopia ELLAZAR (PHI) after Chinese Taipei (TPE) beat the Philippines (PHI) 3-2 in the softball bronze medal match at Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Centre on Monday.

Skylynne Kopia ELLAZAR (PHI)

On her pride in the Philippines team despite the loss:
“We fought hard; this team has come a long way from where we were. I’m super proud of them.”

On the team’s inexperience:
“We are a really young team, and it has been a while since we played at a huge stage like this.

“It has been nice to see them come out, have fight, and play for a medal. We are really happy about that.

“We did a great job coming in with the low experience some of the girls have playing at this level. They did a great job to step up and execute all the good things.”

On their aims for the future:
“We are trying to make it to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Right now, that’s what we are building towards.”

On her experience at the Hangzhou Asian Games:
“This is my second Asian Games and it’s been awesome. Everybody here has been so welcoming, the service, everything has been amazing.

“It is such an experience and something that we are never going to forget.”

 

Bronze Medal
Philippines 2 vs Chinese Taipei 3
Gold Medal
China 0 vs Japan 4