Yoshiho Takahashi (C) JVA (Nikkan Sports News.)

[Valley] Keiho Takahashi, 19-year-old handsome spiker with a name that means "world" in Persian

Coach Philippe Blanc (62) has selected 37 registered players for the Olympic qualifying "World Cup Volleyball" that will start in September. From that member, we will spotlight three young hope players and introduce them in three installments. In the first part, handsome spiker Keiho Takahashi (Keihan, 19 = Houdai), who has an Iranian father and a Japanese mother, talked about his thoughts on joining the top team for the first time. [Interview and Composition: Kota Katsube]

"Keihan". Its name means "world" in Persian. Takahashi, who is 193 cm tall and has a height of 350 cm with an Iranian father and a Japanese mother, proudly says: "I can confidently say it's a nice name. It's my personality." However, during my childhood, I never really liked this name. "I'm half, and compared to the people around me, people see me differently. I didn't like the idea that my name might be seen as strange." He wasn't seen by others, and he couldn't accept himself to be different. Such thoughts changed when I was in the Narashino High School volleyball club. Everything was different from the junior high school club activities that I chose because there was no morning practice. While being tormented by the strongest school in the prefecture, the "difference" inherited from his parents has become a "weapon". He has grown into an ace with serves and spikes that make use of his physical ability and height. He devoted himself to "three years of volleyball." He also participated in spring high school and inter-high school, and ran up to the attention player. He joined the U-20 national team last year. As she steadily climbed the stairs, one day she began to feel that she wanted to become a person who could broaden her horizons to the world. Her current dream is to carry the Japanese flag on her back and stand on the court of the top team. "I could understand that his parents gave him this name," he said, as he came to understand the name he didn't like as a unique personality. He was selected for the top team for the first time this year. Although he is surprised, he keeps his feet on the ground, saying, "It's not the end of being chosen." He is expected to have offensive power and was selected as an opponent specializing in offense.

In the same position are Nishida and Miyaura who know the world. In order to be selected as one of the 14 players who can participate in the Olympic qualifiers, there will be a steep road ahead, but he said, "There are many top-level players. How can I grow and how can I contribute?" "I have an ideal scene." 2019 World Cup, final 5th set between Japan and Canada. From 9-9, Nishida, who was 19 years old at the time, scored five aces, and Japan closed the game with six consecutive breaks. Takahashi has looked back over and over again, saying, "That is the world's opposite." “At the end of the game, even if the toss gathers and two or three marks follow, I can make a solid decision. I want to acquire such a strong feeling and skill.” A bottomless potential and a desire for dreams. As the name suggests, it spreads to the world. ◆Keihan Takahashi was born on October 13, 2003 (Heisei 15) in Asahi City, Chiba Prefecture. She has an Iranian father and a Japanese mother. Due to her injury, she quit soccer, which she started in 2nd grade, and joined the volleyball club in the middle of 2nd grade, because she "had no morning practice." She was an ace in Narashino High School, and she participated in Harutaka for three consecutive years, and in her third year, she was in the best 16. She entered law school and joined the U-20 national team in 2010. She is 193 cm tall and opposite.

Source: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f9f5cc316e43d0c34829935fba3dd0527485a355