The libero slot, which was the focus of the selection of the 12 members of the Japanese men’s volleyball team for the Paris Olympics, was decided to be Tomohiro Yamamoto (Osaka Bulleteon), and Tomohiro Ogawa (JTEKT), who had been competing until the end, was not selected. Coach Philippe Blanc, who held an online press conference from Manila on the 24th, expressed his distress, saying, “It’s difficult to choose only one.”

What about Takahashi Ai on the outside?

Most international tournaments have a player registration limit of 14 players, so two liberos are registered. However, the Olympic Games are limited to 12 players, and Japan decided from the beginning of this season to limit the number of liberos to one due to player organization. Therefore, Coach Blanc gave both Yamamoto and Ogawa equal playing opportunities in the currently ongoing Nations League.

Coach Blanc commented about Yamamoto and Ogawa, “Both of them…