Our Town Inagi 2023 Ryunosuke Minami

Champion in the Boys' Singles U-17 Division at the JOC Tournament / 29th All Japan Junior Soft Tennis Championship!

Ryunosuke Minami (15), a third-year student at Inagi Dai 3 Junior High School, won first place in the Boys' Singles U-17 division (from 3rd year junior high to 2nd year high school) at the JOC Junior Olympic Cup / 29th All Japan Junior Soft Tennis Championship held in Hiroshima City on September 17 and 18. Minami said with heartfelt joy, "At first, I couldn't believe it. It's thanks to the support of those around me."

From Encountering Soft Tennis to the Present

Minami started playing soft tennis when he was in kindergarten, living in Hachioji City. He accompanied his father, who belonged to a local soft tennis club, to practice and says he "started playing just for fun." In the 4th grade of elementary school, he transferred to the well-known high-level "Inagi Junior" team. Later, when entering junior high school, he also moved his residence to Inagi City, enrolled in Inagi Dai 3 Junior High School, and joined the strong soft tennis club there.

Currently, he participates in club activities four days a week, joins Inagi Junior practice on Wednesdays when the club is off, and has matches, trips, and practice on weekends, so he faces soft tennis almost every day without a break. To balance his studies, he also attends cram school twice a week after practice. Although he has morning practice starting at 7:30 a.m., he smiles and says, "I've never once thought about quitting because it's tough." When asked about the appeal of soft tennis, he said, "There are various tactics, and it's rewarding to score points and win while thinking together with my partner."

Defeating older players to win the gold medal! Future goals are...

This tournament is a highly competitive event where only players with outstanding records or those recommended by the Japan Soft Tennis Federation can participate. In the second round, Minami faced a second-year high school player who placed third in the Inter-High, but he said, "I actually lost my nervousness and felt excited," and went on to win the third round, semifinals, and finals. When asked about the moment of victory, he recalled, "I don't remember it well. Both I and my parents were just amazed, but when I returned to Inagi two days later and people around me said 'Congratulations,' I was overwhelmed with happiness."

Minami expressed her gratitude to those around her, saying, "My parents drove me every day, and the coaches from the club and Inagi Junior practiced with me early in the morning. The advisor also made detailed adjustments, and the members I practiced with had a good relationship regardless of seniority. Thanks to that, I have been able to continue playing soft tennis without any worries." She powerfully shared her future goal: "I aim to enter Mie High School, a strong soft tennis school and also my father's alma mater, and to win the Inter-High School Championships."