Tokyo, October 24, 2006: When Kaoru Sugayama and her teammates run out into the white-hot atmosphere of Yoyogi Gymnasium next week, they will be living a dream of millions of youngsters around Japan.
For the 2006 FIVB World Championships, these are the chosen few – the players who have grown from bright-eyed volleyball kids to national team members and sporting idols.
While most have fallen by the wayside, this select group have reached their goal through sacrifice, dedication and ambition, on top of their natural talent and technical skills, and now represent a nation in a sport steeped in history and glory. Every point they play during the World Championships will be followed by young and old, male and female, on TV sets around the country, turning the players into household names within a few electrifying days.
Take the case of Sugayama.
At 1.69 meters and 56 kilograms, the 27-year-old libero epitomizes the special qualities of the Asian volleyball player: incredible reflexes, agility and a never-say-die spirit. And before she switched positions from wing spiker to libero, Sugayama would astonish teammates and opponents alike with her athletic leaps and razor-sharp spikes.
She is now one of the most popular players on the team – and has earned the regal nickname “Kaoru Hime”, or Princess Kaoru.
When asked how it feels to have reached the top and to have millions of fans willing her to win, Kaoru replies that she must always be grateful for the position she is in, and has a duty to play her best at all times.
“The World Championships is the biggest international event in volleyball, and it was always the one I dreamed of playing in,” she says.
“I have longed to play in the World Championships, and everything we have done this year has been for this. The team is in the final stage of preparation and there is a really good atmosphere. We all feel the same; we are excited and can’t wait to play. We are ready.”
Japan’s opponents know what to expect when they take the court against the home team: a deafening shriek from the supporters and the thunder of stick balloons for every point won, and a collective sigh when the point goes the other way. It is a special atmosphere, and rival teams must display a strong mentality to focus on their own game amidst the frenzy.
Kaoru admits the players and the fans feed off each other.
“The fans get a lot of energy from the players during the game, and we get a lot of energy from their cheering and encouragement,” she says. “It is a two-way thing, a good inter-action between the players and fans.”
In such circumstances, no wonder the World Championships will prompt another cycle of volleyball dreamers around Japan – just like Kaoru Sugayama all those years ago.
