Hello everyone. Today I have something to announce.
I, Yoshijun Ishikawa, have decided to retire after the WTT Macau Championship in April. I hope that I can concentrate on my last game in the current game like every game in normal times, so I am really sorry that I was not able to announce my retirement to everyone in advance.
After entering 2023, I feel that every game will be the last of my table tennis career, and I have always cherished this idea and then faced and enjoyed each game with all my strength. Now, I feel that I have been satisfied with my table tennis career, I have done my best, and I have made this decision to retire very calmly.
I started playing at the age of 7, and the 23 years of my table tennis career have brought me the most valuable experience of my life.
Since the London Olympics, I have won medals in three consecutive Olympic Games, won the world championship in mixed doubles, won the all-Japan singles championship five times, and there are many matches in my career that I should remember.
I started playing in various international competitions as a member of the Japanese national team at the age of 14, and for a long time I was able to compete at the top level in the world, and I am happy and happy that many of my dreams have come true.
The longer my career grows, the more I feel that I have come to where I am today because I have a lot of people around me who support me. I am very grateful to my coaches, sparring partners, therapists and partners who have been training with me for a long time, as well as my good friends and family. Thank you for working with me with a positive mindset every time and preparing for the competition!
还有在我的职业Life中一直支持我的赞助商们,包括我所属的全农Zen-noh,还有尼塔库Nittaku、亚瑟士Asics、Resonac、长洲产业Choshu Sangyo、东陶TOTO、爱维福Airweave、Careritz and Partners、Kinoshita Abiel, 各个赞助商们,谢谢你们长久次对我的支持! Impressive!
Then I also have to thank the players who are both opponents and friends. I learned a lot from the stance of facing competitive sports, the difficulty of challenging victory and defeat, and the fierce competition. Among them, always keeping the best game is my demand and belief in myself!
Finally, I have to say to the fans who cheered me on until the last game: "Thank you! ”
Since middle school, I have been training with Chinese coaches at every stage, and I have met many coaches who have helped me along the way, which is very precious to me. Of course, I also began to contact and absorb Chinese culture and Chinese little by little, because after the meeting Chinese I can communicate with Chinese friends and fans, which is really happy for me. Every time I compete in China, I can feel your enthusiasm, thank you for the strength and warmth you have always brought me!
Whether it's when I'm happy winning, or when I'm upset and frustrated after the game, I'll be with me all the time. I hope that the fans who have cheered me on and watched me play can gain even a little bit and have a positive attitude every day in the future, which will make me happi.
Also, I will treasure the little gifts and souvenirs you made!
From now on, although everything is a new beginning, I will not forget the challenge attitude brought to me by the spirit of table tennis, I will face various challenges, I am looking forward to it! I really appreciate everyone's long-term support for me!
The retirement press conference will be held on May 18, and I will share my feelings with you in more detail at the press conference.
2023.05.01 Kasumi Ishikawa
Sina Sports Weibo commented: Ishikawa Jiajun's retirement press conference will be held on May 18, and she will share her feelings with everyone in more detail at the press conference. The 30-year-old Yoshijun Ishikawa has won three Olympic team medals. In the 2017 World Table Tennis Championships, she and Yoshimura Maharu partnered to win the mixed doubles championship. In addition, Yoshijun Ishikawa also won 5 silvers and 2 bronzes in the World Table Tennis Championships
WTT official Sina Weibo blessings and expectations: Ishikawa Jiajun announced his retirement, wishing Ishikawa's life a more exciting second half! Start a new chapter in your life and wish Yoshijun Ishikawa all the best in the future.
About Yoshijun Ishikawa:
Yoshijun Ishikawa (Japanese name: Yoshijun Ishikawa), born on February 23, 1993 in Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, is a Japanese female table tennis player.
Yoshijun Ishikawa began learning table tennis at the age of 7 and reached the women's singles semifinals at the All Japan Championship in 2007. In the same year, 14-year-old Yoshijun Ishikawa qualified for the World Table Tennis Championships in Zagreb. In 2009, Yoshijun Ishikawa reached the women's singles quarterfinals at the Yokohama World Table Tennis Championships. In 2010, Yoshijun Ishikawa won her first career tour singles gold medal at the Moroccan Open, and at the end of the year, she helped the Japanese women's team win the first women's World Youth Championship in history. At the 2012 London Olympics, Yoshijun Ishikawa won the fourth place in the women's singles table tennis and the silver medal in the women's team in table tennis. In 2015, Yoshijun Ishikawa won the silver medal in the women's singles of the 19th Table Tennis World Cup. At the Rio Olympics the following year, Yoshijun Ishikawa won the bronze medal in the women's table tennis team. In the 2017 Budapest World Table Tennis Championships, Yoshijun Ishikawa and Maharu Yoshimura won the mixed doubles gold medal. In January 2021, Yoshijun Ishikawa won the women's singles title of the All Japan Championship for the fifth time. At the Tokyo Olympics in July, Yoshijun Ishikawa won the silver medal in the women's table tennis team. In March 2023, the Japanese team announced the list of participants in the table tennis events of the Durban World Table Tennis Championships and the Hangzhou Asian Games, and Yoshijun Ishikawa did not have the opportunity to participate.