Source: Sipa USA /SOPA Images
[Saba Sports News] Less than a month before the Paris Olympics, 29-year-old Japanese badminton men’s singles player Nishimoto Kenta is set to make his Olympic debut. From May 2023 to the end of the year, Nishimoto participated in 27 competitions as part of the year-long Olympic selection series. He eventually achieved the 11th rank in men’s singles worldwide, making him the second highest-ranked male player in Japan. Alongside Naraoka Kodai, he qualified for the Paris Olympics. In a recent interview with the media, Nishimoto reflected on his journey of struggle. In 2020, he left his job at Tonami Transportation Company and became a freelancer. He now lives and trains alone in Gifu, occasionally training with players like Fukushima Yuki and Hirota Sayaka. Due to insufficient Olympic points, Nishimoto failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. Starting in 2022, he joined a new company and pursued a strategy of participating in numerous events to accumulate enough Olympic points. Nishimoto’s motto is “Grass Soul,” symbolizing his determination not to easily give up. It is said that these words were inspired by the legendary Japanese baseball pitcher Suzuki Keishi. When Suzuki was struggling with declining grades, he noticed weeds growing in the cracks of a parking lot and realized that even in harsh conditions, one must strive against all odds. After Suzuki made a successful comeback, he would always add the words “Grass Soul” when signing his name.