TOKYO: The Japanese Paralympic Committee said Friday that it has picked Shingo Kunieda, a 37-year-old wheelchair tennis player, as captain of the Japanese delegation at the Tokyo Paralympics, set to kick off on Aug. 24.

The committee the same day released its first list of delegation members, including a record 221 athletes. 

Kunieda will compete in his fifth straight Paralympics in Tokyo.

“There are various opinions about whether the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which were postponed by one year from 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, should be held this summer as planned,” Kunieda said in a statement.

“As an athlete, I hope to compete (in the Paralympics) with an understanding that there are various restrictions while remembering my gratitude to those who have worked hard (to hold the event),” he added.

Rie Urata, a 44-year-old female goalball player, who was picked as vice captain of the delegation, said, “I will play this role sincerely with responsibility and pride in mind so that I can serve as a model for other members of the delegation.”

Kunieda has earned a total of five Paralympic medals, including three golds, won at the singles events at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games, and at the doubles competition at the Athens Games in 2004.

As of Monday, he topped the men’s wheelchair tennis singles world rankings. Hopes are swelling that he will take the podium for the fifth consecutive time at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Kunieda earned his spot at the upcoming games after winning the men’s singles at the Indonesia Asian Para Games in autumn 2018.

Yui Kamiji of Japan, who won the women’s wheelchair tennis singles title at the Asian Para Games, will also compete at the Tokyo Paralympics.

The Japanese Olympic Committee said Thursday that sprinter Ryota Yamagata, 29, who set a new Japanese record of 9.95 seconds for the men’s 100 meters last month, has been named captain of the Japanese delegation for the Tokyo Olympics, starting on July 23.

Table tennis player Kasumi Ishikawa, 28, who won a silver medal in the women’s team event at the 2012 London Olympics, will serve as vice captain of the delegation.

JIJI Press