People :
Badminton Singles
The Third Prize of the Japan Ranking
Ms. Yu Hirayama

Ms. Yu Hirayama She was born in Miyagi prefecture, in 1985, and graduated from St. Ursula High School. She is now a sophomore at the School of Social Sciences. She won the first prize of the inter-high school athletic meet when she was a second grade high school student, and the next year, she won the all-Japan second prize. Now she belongs to the national team of the Japan Badminton Society as the representative of Japan. She has also played in the World Ladies' Championship (Uber Cup) and other worldwide tournaments, such as the British Open Championship.

Even in her elementary school days, she belonged to the junior club in her hometown and played in national championships. She entered a junior-and-senior high school which was strong in badminton. Now she often practices with the national team she belongs to, but she also plays as the member of the badminton club at Waseda University. “The atmosphere of the badminton club is the best. When I return to the club even after a long absence for national team matches, they welcome me back warmly.” When it comes to her friends, she talks amiably.

As a player on the world stage, everyone around Ms. Hirayama has high expectations of her. Though Japanese players are said to be at a disadvantage to foreign players in terms of physique, “I thought I could do well overseas by my effort”, she says showing her confidence. She has been ranked number one in Japan in singles, and has felt "chased" by the pressure of her outstanding talent. “To be honest, I'm tired mentally, ha. When I feel pressure, I cannot do my best, an aggressive match. So, I want to play with all my might. Now, somehow, it's important to win even if I cannot be satisfied with the contents of the matches”, she asserts.

In addition, there is another problem which troubles Ms. Hirayama: her body is worn out with fatigue. “I'm young, but like an old woman”, she smiles wryly. Her lumbago is serious, and massages and accupuncture treatment are indispensable. With her body, “it is hard to sit down on a wooden classroom chair for 90 minutes”, but she gulps down painkillers and survives her matches.

At most three players from Japan will be selected to compete in the Beijing Olympics, and Ms. Hirayama's greatest aim is to be one of them. . She has to play at least ten tournaments in a year in the point system. However strong a player someone is, no one can be nominated without constant participation in the tournaments, and winning to get points. For a student like Hirayama, juggling matches with classes, and tests is a big headache. The troubles are endless, but “the person who wins at the Olympics is the strongest of all! I want a chance to participate.” Her will is unwavering. For the notable player Ms. Hirayama, it has become her mission to use her natural talent to win victory after victory all the way to the Olympics.

natural talent to repeat victories and to aim at participating in the Olympics.