Features
[JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Haruka Kitaguchi Sets Sights on the Asian Javelin Record in 2025
After winning the Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games, javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi targets new goals, including the mark of 67.98 meters set in 2019.
To remain the best in the world in one's chosen profession, motivation and dedication are important characteristics. For Haruka Kitaguchi, a commitment to practice underscores both of those elements.
Although her outdoor season is likely set to begin with a Diamond League meet in China in May 2025, Kitaguchi is already busy preparing for spring and summer meets next year.
The women's javelin gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics started training for 2025 on November 1.
At a practice session open to the media on November 14 at the Ajinomoto National Training Center in Tokyo, the 26-year-old Hokkaido native outlined her top goals for next year.
As she aims to defend her world title at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September, Kitaguchi also has another objective in mind for the year ahead.
She's targeting the Asian record for female javelin throwers (67.98 meters), set by China's Huihui Lyu in August 2019.
Kitaguchi's personal-best mark is 67.38 meters, established in September 2023.
"I really want to exceed it, and I think I can do it if I give it my all and the conditions are right," Kitaguchi was quoted as saying by The Sankei Shimbun.
She added, "I have confidence in myself."
Haruka Kitaguchi Raised Expectations with Olympic Gold
After claiming her first world title in Budapest in August 2023 (66.73 meters), Kitaguchi outclassed the field to capture the gold medal at the Paris Olympics on August 10, 2024. Her Olympic best throw: 65.80 meters.
Noting her age, a time in her life considered the peak for an elite athlete, Kitaguchi is thinking beyond 2025 in terms of goals.
She's also refreshed by having a clean slate for the upcoming season, telling reporters, "Every season, I start training thinking that I can find a new me," The Sankei Shimbun reported.
Added Kitaguchi, "I am looking forward to seeing what kind of person I can become."
Before she turns 30, Haruka Kitaguchi expects to accomplish more notable feats as a javelin thrower.
"I look forward to seeing how I come into form," Kitaguchi told reporters in Tokyo.
"Statistically, these next four years are the peak ones for a javelin thrower," she said, according to Kyodo News.
Various Sports are Incorporated into Her Training
In addition to typical muscle-building activities, Haruka Kitaguchi is making other sports a part of her workout regimen. The activities include swimming, badminton and gymnastics to help maintain her strength and muscular flexibility, which are key components of throwing the javelin.
As the 2024 Diamond League Final winner gets ready for the upcoming season, she likened cooking in the kitchen to training at a sports venue.
"It is just like cooking," she said of training, according to The Sankei Shimbun. "I hope to cook slowly and carefully so as not to make mistakes in the intensity of training."
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- Haruka Kitaguchi Grabs the Gold in Women's Javelin
- Olympic Roundup: Javelin Thrower Haruka Kitaguchi Books a Spot in the Final
- [ODDS and EVENS] World Champion Haruka Kitaguchi Targets Olympic Gold
Soccer
Japan Cruises Past Indonesia in World Cup Qualifier
In Jakarta, the Japan men's national team had the superior performance in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia, winning 4-0 on Friday, November 15.
The Samurai Blue grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third-round match on a Justin Hubner own goal in the 35th minute.
Japan's Takumi Minamino doubled the lead in the 40th minute.
Hidemasa Morita and Yukinari Sugawara scored in the 49th and 69th minutes, respectively.
In the third round of qualifying, Japan has four wins and a draw to establish a commanding lead atop the Group C standings. Australia, Saudi Arabia and China currently all have six points, with Bahrain and Indonesia below them in the standings.
"I am happy that we are top of the group but we haven't gained anything yet until we manage to secure the World Cup place," Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu said, according to Agence France-Presse.
Up next: Japan travels to play China on Tuesday, November 19 in Xiamen.
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Baseball
Ohtani Wins Silver Slugger Award
National League MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani of the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers was named a Silver Slugger Award winner on Tuesday, November 12.
The MLB Network announced the complete list of winners.
Ohtani previously won the Silver Slugger Award for the American League's designated hitter in 2021 and 2023 after hitting 46 and 44 home runs, respectively, for the Los Angeles Angels.
Silver Slugger Awards are given each MLB season to the top offensive player at each position in both leagues. MLB managers and coaches vote for the recipients.
In 2024, Ohtani had career-high totals in homers (54), doubles (38), hits (197), RBIs (130), runs (134), stolen bases (59) and batting average (.310). And he became the first MLB player in history with 50 or more homers and 50 or more steals in the same season.
In related news, Ohtani was named the NL's Hank Aaron Award winner on Thursday, November 14. New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge was chosen as the AL recipient of the annual award, which is presented to the top offensive performer in both leagues.
"It's an honor to receive an award named after the legendary Hank Aaron," Ohtani said, according to Kyodo News. "My deep appreciation goes out to all the fans and Hall of Famers who voted for me. Your support means everything to me."
Major League Baseball's 2024 MVP winners for the AL and NL, which are selected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, will be announced on Thursday, November 21.
Ohtani won his second AL MVP Award in 2023.
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Golf
Ishikawa Claims 20th JGTO Career Title
Veteran golfer Ryo Ishikawa carded a 3-under 67 in the final round of the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters tournament on Sunday, November 10.
Ishikawa's final-round performance was just what he needed to secure his 20th title in a Japan Golf Tour Organization event. He won the tournament by one stroke over Hideto Tanihara and Riki Kawamoto, finishing at 11-under 269 at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Ishikawa, 33, made par on four consecutive holes to position himself for a shot at the title on Sunday.
On the 18th hole, he clinched the win with a birdie. As a result, Ishikawa is now the 12th golfer in JGT0 history with 20 or more titles.
After the final round ended, Ishikawa described the decisive moment.
"As I approached the 18th hole, I was focused on making a birdie as I knew that would give me the win," he said, according to the JGTO's official website. "I chose a three-wood off the tee, followed by using a three-iron from about 230 yards. My approach shot then landed within 20 feet from the hole and I managed to roll it in for birdie.
"It was so rewarding when I heard the crowd roar."
Also this season, Ishikawa triumphed at the Japan Players Championship with a one-stroke win over Kota Kaneko on June 23.
Basketball
Kawamura Has a Solid NBA G League Debut
After appearing in eight games for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies in the early portion of the 2024-25 season, point guard Yuki Kawamura made his debut with the team's NBA G League affiliate on Friday, November 15.
Kawamura, a former Yokohama B-Corsairs star, had seven points and 10 assists in nearly 30 minutes for the Memphis Hustle against the Oklahoma City Blue in Southaven, Mississippi. He added four rebounds and a steal and shot 3-for-12 from the floor, including 1 of 6 from 3-point range in the Hustle's 132-121 loss.
The 23-year-old Kawamura is averaging 1.0 points, 0.8 assists and 3.2 minutes with the Grizzlies, who signed him to a two-way contract.
Look for Kawamura to regularly receive more minutes in games when he suits up for the Hustle than when he plays for the Grizzlies.
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Briefly…
Yuki Tsunoda is 11th in the Formula One drivers' standings with 28 points during the 2024 season. The RB driver has had a season-best result of seventh place in a trio of races, most recently at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on November 3.
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.