【Link to 国スポ・障スポ】宮崎障スポで頂点めざす　サウンドテーブルテニス・川野健一選手

"Link to National Sports Festivals & Para Sports Festivals." This time, we introduce Kenichi Kawano, a sound table tennis player expected to shine at the Miyazaki Para Sports Festival. Kawano, who is visually impaired, is aiming for a gold medal at next year's Para Sports Festival. Miyazaki City's Myojo School for the Visually Impaired. Standing at the podium is teacher Kenichi Kawano (52). Mr. Kawano, who is completely blind, is a teacher in the physical therapy department, where students aim to obtain national qualifications such as massage therapists. But Mr. Kawano has another side to him. He is a sound table tennis player. Sound table tennis is a form of table tennis played by visually impaired people. The equipment used is a racket without rubber so that the sound of the ball being hit can be heard, and a ball that makes a sound when it rolls. Players sense the movement of the ball by sound and hit it back and forth while passing it between the table and the net. (Kenichi Kawano) "It's a sport that relies heavily on sound, so it requires a lot of concentration, but it's very rewarding." With 15 years of competitive experience, Kawano has participated in the Para Sports Championships five times, winning gold medals in 2022 and last year. He is expected to perform well at next year's Miyazaki Para Sports Championships. (Kenichi Kawano) "I'm working on practicing the speed and placement of my serves, and hitting the ball exactly where I want it to go." Kawano also coaches the sound table tennis club at Myojo School for the Visually Impaired. Their daily practice has paid off, as Myojo School for the Visually Impaired won the team championship at the Kyushu Tournament held in June. (Shota Fukushima, Myojo School for the Visually Impaired) "Last year we came in third in the team competition, but I'm glad we won this year. I think we were able to win because of the guidance I received from (Mr. Kawano)." (Kenichi Kawano) "I always hope that my students will find something they can be passionate about, and if that something is sound table tennis, then I think that's great." As both a player and a coach, Mr. Kawano has a reason for looking forward to the Miyazaki Para Sports Festival. (Kenichi Kawano) "I have two sons, and I hope I can show them me competing. Since the tournament is being held in Miyazaki, I want to keep working hard so that I can win a gold medal and make the people around me happy." Mr. Kawano says that his days are fulfilling since he discovered sound table tennis. He aims for his third gold medal on the big stage in Miyazaki. (Kenichi Kawano) "For me, the Miyazaki National Sports Festival and the Miyazaki Para Sports Festival are a driving force for me to live my daily life positively." The table tennis competition, including sound table tennis, at the Miyazaki Para Sports Festival will be held on October 23rd and 24th next year at the Miyazaki City General Gymnasium and Central Community Center.