WUHAN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Japan is targeting for more medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics although tough competition are expected from both China and Indonesia, Japan's badminton head coach said here on Saturday.
"Next year, we will play on home soil and expect better results," said Park Joo-bong, head coach of Japan's national team, told Xinhua during the 2019 Asian Badminton Championships.
In the Rio Olympic Games, Japan had its best collection of one gold and one bronze in the badminton tournament.
Park said that Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo, who claimed the women's doubles title in Rio, are hailed as models by the Japanese Olympic Committee, which sees badminton as a "top ace area" and concentrates much of its efforts on the sport.
The 54-year-old South Korean coach, a former Olympic champion, said that his team has a high level of motivation and the players know well the harder they work the better they can achieve. "They see one another as rivals and want to make better results."
"Our rankings in the five events are good now and we will start the Olympic race in May," he said, adding that Japan will hopefully field strong players in each category at the Tokyo Games.
"It's tougher for (Kento) Momota this year than before, but his goal at the Tokyo Olympics is a gold medal," said Park, who provided a long list of world champion Momota's rivals led by China's Lin Dan, Chen Long and Shi Yuqi.
"China has a long history in badminton, while Japan just grows up as a rival," Park said. "For me, China is a badminton country. Many big, international tournaments are held in China. But more and more children in Japan are watching and becoming interested in badminton."
During the ongoing Asian championships, the Japan players are cruising past the Chinese, South Korean and Vietnamese competitors to make it to the four singles and doubles finals.
