Japan’s football gold-winning penalty hero wants more home fans to embrace women’s game
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Japan’s Shiokoshi Yuzuho fighting for the ball with North Korea’s Choe Kum Ok in the Asian Games women's football final at Shizuoka Stadium on Oct 2.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Japan’s footballer Yuzuho Shiokoshi hopes their Asian Games gold will attract more home fans to women’s football despite a modest crowd of 6,000 at the final.
- The women’s team won 5-3 on penalties against North Korea after a 2-2 draw, securing their third consecutive Asian Games gold.
- Shiokoshi urges greater support for women’s football and hopes the victory boosts interest and value in Japan’s domestic WE League.
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NAGOYA – Japan’s penalty hero Yuzuho Shiokoshi hopes her team’s football gold on home soil can get more local fans to embrace the women’s game, after a modest crowd attended their Asian Games 5-3 shoot-out win over North Korea.
Some 6,000 people watched the Oct 2 final at the 50,000-seat Shizuoka Stadium, while the host broadcaster opted to cover the men’s volleyball semi-final between Japan and China instead.
A day earlier, 65,000 spectators watched the Japanese men’s national team beat Ecuador on penalties in the Kirin Cup in Yokohama.
Japan’s women claimed their third successive Asian Games gold, three years after beating North Korea in front of 37,000 fans in Hangzhou, China.
“The crowd today might have been large for this tournament, but compared to last time in Hangzhou, I feel like we’re still not quite there,” said Shiokoshi, who struck the winning penalty following a 2-2 tie after extra time.
“We’re out there fighting hard, and we want people to come and see us play in person.
“It’s tough at times, given that women’s football isn’t always prioritised for TV broadcasts.”
Japan selected a squad made up almost exclusively of home-based players rather than their top players in Europe despite the Games’ tournament falling largely within the September-October international window.
Shiokoshi, a midfielder for Tokyo Verdy Beleza in Japan’s WE League, said her teammates’ performances had been a good advertisement for the women’s top flight.
“I hope this encourages more people to come and watch WE League matches, and that it helps generate some excitement around the league,” she said.
“I think winning the title can boost the league’s value.” REUTERS