kurako
Regular Member
Unfortunately Shimono Hashiru had to retire from the Malaysia International Challenge yesterday.
I hope it's not too serious. He only just recently returned to action following an unexplained retirement at the All Japan Members Championships in early September; the same injury may have flared up again. If so, then the timing is really unfortunate. The All Japan Championships, due to be held at the end of this month, will determine whether he can keep his place on the B Team.
As for the other participants in the Malaysia IC, Naraoka Kodai, Mizui Hirari, Takahashi Asuka, and Nidaira Natsuki have made it to the SF.
Naraoka, incidentally, will also be playing in the Bangladesh International Challenge and the Yonex K&D Graphics International Challenge in December. Surprisingly, in both of these tournaments, he will be joined by the following National Junior Team members:
Hatano Riku (MS): Saitama Sakae HS 3rd year (to be employed by Tonami from April 2020)
Takei Riki (MS): Futaba Future School HS 1st year (Futaba Future School is the successor to Tomioka JS & HS, Momota's alma mater, which was closed due to the fallout at Fukushima)
Kumatani/Fujizawa (MD): St. Ursula Gakuin Eichi HS 3rd year

As for the other participants in the Malaysia IC, Naraoka Kodai, Mizui Hirari, Takahashi Asuka, and Nidaira Natsuki have made it to the SF.
Naraoka, incidentally, will also be playing in the Bangladesh International Challenge and the Yonex K&D Graphics International Challenge in December. Surprisingly, in both of these tournaments, he will be joined by the following National Junior Team members:
Hatano Riku (MS): Saitama Sakae HS 3rd year (to be employed by Tonami from April 2020)
Takei Riki (MS): Futaba Future School HS 1st year (Futaba Future School is the successor to Tomioka JS & HS, Momota's alma mater, which was closed due to the fallout at Fukushima)
Kumatani/Fujizawa (MD): St. Ursula Gakuin Eichi HS 3rd year