On the 5th, at the Paris Paralympics, Japan won the bronze medal in the Boccia mixed team third place match against South Korea. A public viewing (PV) was held at the Lifelong Learning and Exchange Center in Kimitsu City, Chiba Prefecture, the hometown of team leader Takayoshi Hirose (40) of Nishio Rent All, and about 110 citizens burned Hirose’s heroic performance in the city of flowers into their memories.

When Hirose was shown on the big screen, the locals cheered her on by hitting stick balloons and shouting, “Go for it!” When Hirose, who was in charge of the second throw in the fifth end, let out a roar as he hit the target ball perfectly, a huge cheer erupted in the PV venue.

At the moment of winning the bronze medal, the crowd chanted “Hirose!” and Jin Takahashi (57), a company employee from the city who came with his wife, said with a smile, “This was my first time watching boccia, but it was exciting and thrilling. I was moved by Hirose’s performance.” (Tsubasa Matsuzaki)

Boccia team wins bronze medal for third consecutive Olympics, comfortably defeats South Korea in third-round match