Yoshida wants to make most of first Olympic adventure
TOKYO (2016 Rio Olympics) - Asami Yoshida didn't need to win last year's FIBA Asia Women's Championship to be reminded of how special a feeling it is to stand on top of the podium. The successful title defence had more significance, though, than the crown captured two years before.
Asami Yoshida (JPN) made the All-Star Five at the 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship
It came after a knee injury that had sidelined her for a year. Yoshida, the whirling dervish of a point guard who mesmerized at the 2013 FIBA Asia Women's Championship, had to skip the 2014 FIBA Women's World Championship and without her, the team lost a spark it couldn't do without.
Ramu Tokashiki, the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship MVP, wasn't the same player without Yoshida dribbling up the floor at a breakneck speed and feeding her the ball. But with Yoshida back last year, Tokashiki and Japan were back in business.
There was something else that made it better than winning the 2013 title. Japan assured themselves of a spot in a very important tournament in 2016.
I was very happy to win 2013 FIBA Asia Championship because it was the first time for me to win the Championship. However, winning the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship was far beyond my imagination. I was so excited that I finally could play in the Olympics which I always dreamed about. - Yoshida
"I think all members of our team had pressure to win playing the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship as the defending champion," Yoshida said to FIBA.com. "However, rather than feeling the pressure, our team always kept its aggressiveness, each player understood her role and responsibility and we focused on winning game by game. That led to the result that we have achieved."
One consequence is that Yoshida and her teammates are experiencing different emotions right now. The players are getting used to the idea that they are going to be Olympians.
Japan had not played at an Olympics since 1996, when the Games were staged in Atlanta. Yoshida was just eight years old.
"I have always dreamed of playing in the Olympics since my childhood and I am very happy that my dream will come true," Yoshida said. "But this is not the goal. As I represent my country and play on the dream stage, I need to play with full effort to reach the top.
Asia champions Japan (JPN) will play at an Olympics for the first time since 1996
"Being at the Olympic Games for the first time, I do look forward to feeling the atmosphere of the Opening Ceremony and enjoying what Olympics are all about," she said. "But when back on the court, I will switch my mind and focus on winning every game."
No one should take Japan lightly in Rio. Australia coach Brendan Joyce certainly won't. His squad took on Yoshida and Co last summer in a series Down Under and after, he spoke highly of their style of play and work rate and called them dangerous.
"As a member of the Japan national team, I am very honored to be recognized by the coach that leads the Australia national team that always competes at the top world level," Yoshida said. "During our tour in Oceania, we were able to play games at a high level.
"Especially, we were able to simulate the (FIBA Asia rivals) China national team during the games that we played with Australia. The Oceania teams have height and are highly skilled. I hope that we can continue to play each other since the training games are wonderful opportunities for us to prepare for world level competition."
Rio, meanwhile, isn't the only Olympics Yoshida and her teammates are thinking about. In 2020, the Summer Games will be in Tokyo.
I believe that the Tokyo Olympics will be a great opportunity for basketball to grow in Japan. For that reason, it is the duty of the 12 players that will play in the Rio Olympics to achieve the results that would lead to Tokyo. - Yoshida
Yoshida is thrilled to be a part of a winning program. She is mindful that there have been other great players in the country that helped lay the foundation for the success she now enjoys.
"It is not just us that has established the history of basketball in Japan," she said. "The success and the guidance of the pioneers that we respect has led us to the Asia Championship. So it is essential for us to perform well in order to continue our great legacy and history.
"If we bring back the Olympic medals to Japan, I believe that it would attract great deal of attention," Yoshida said. "For Japan basketball to reach the next level, our team would (need to) unite and reach our goals in Rio as well."
FIBA