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[World Gateball Championship JAPAN-NIIGATA 2014]
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Introducing the Teams that Drew Attention
【TPE Fangyuan Junior High School】 (Chinese Taipei)
The only junior team that advanced to the Championship Round!
This was the only junior team in this championship, and comprised of students, alumni, and their teacher (who is the coach) of the junior high school in Changhua County, which was the venue of the 5th Asia Championship held in 2008. They demonstrated team work in that they have been playing together continuously for 5 to 6 years, and advanced to the Championship Tournament.
In the first-round, they were up against China Macao 1 (Macao China), who made it to the best 8, and showed relentless pursuit until the end, but lost by a narrow margin of 1 point, which was mortifying.
"We have won the All Chinese Taipei Junior Championship, and wish to express our deep gratitude for the chance to participate in this championship."
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Apart from stroking form, players also used the Chinese-style stride-and-strike form |
【GARUDA SULUT】 (Indonesia)
Youngest player registered in this championship is 11 years old!
"Sulut" is an abbreviation of the North Sulawesi province located on the Sulawesi Island in central Indonesia, and is a region where gateball is recently becoming rapidly popular.
The team was formed for this championship with players from islands such as Sumatra, Java and etc. all over from the North Sulawesi province.
The players lives on different islands, so they kept in touch through Facebook and online chattings.
Once they gather at one place, they practiced very hard together. The average gateball experience of the members is 3 years, but they put up a good fight in the preliminary league matches with 2 victories and 1 defeat.
"We had a good experience competing with the runners up, JOSHOKIRYU. We would like to take the experience from this championship home and carry out more research for the future."
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| The player at the center in the back row is the youngest 11 year old player, Bagus Triadi SAPUTRA. At just 11 years, he has a lot of experience of participating in overseas open tournaments, including the 6th Asia Championship (Macao) in 2012. |
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Team includes young members, from 11 to 33 years old. |
【Los Angeles】 (U.S.A)
Oldest player in this championship is 90 years old!
This is a team of Japanese Americans from Los Angeles with the oldest player in the championship, 90 year old Machiyo KIYAMA.
She started playing gateball at the age of 65. Since then she has participated with her now deceased husband in various championships, including the onces overseas such as Japan and Brazil.
She currently lives in a retirement home, and has trained hard on her practice swinging and hitting other balls for two hours every day, on the gateball court the retirement home owns.
"Young players also gathers at the court at the retirement home, and I enjoy playing with them. Thanks to gateball, I am very healthy and happy playing with everyone." (KIYAMA)
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| Player Shigeru TAIRA (second from the left, 62,) from the team "Deigo B" that won the third place in the 7th World Championship (Hawaii) in 1998, is registered as well. |
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Player KIYAMA presenting an energetic play. Hard to believe she is 90! |
【Thailand】 (Thailand)
Participating in this championship after 10 years and putting up a good fight with 2 victories and 1 defeat in the preliminary league matches!
Since the 6th World Championship (held in Kagoshima, Japan) in 1994, this is the second time Thailand participating in this championship. They sure was making an appearance after an interval of 10 years and five championships.
The team mainly comprised of men in their 20s, and put up a good fight with 2 victories and 1 defeat in the preliminary league matches.
"We wish to express deep gratitude for holding a big opening ceremony and welcome party to the organizer, and to all the people watching us from the sunbaked stands during the championship. Above all, we are happy to have developed friendship with players from various countries and regions through this championship."
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| Honing their skills by participating in overseas open championships since 2012, and demonstrating great results |
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All the members played with the croquet style |
【China Macao 1】 (Macao - China)
Remarkable achievement of making it to the best 8 in their first championship as the Macao team!
The strongest team representing Macao - China achieved the feat of making it to the best 8, which was a first for Macao China. The team was formed 5 years ago. Apart from practicing for 1 to 2 hours in the mornings three to four times a week, they participated in championships in China to learn techniques and strategies.
"Gateball's appeal is constantly changing, and it is no longer the same game. Therefore, during practice, we try to fight by adapting to the situation. We could compete with strong teams in this championship, and have learned a lot."
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| Men's team mainly in their 50s to 60s |
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Chinese influence is clearly visible, such as straight sparking that is often seen among Chinese players |
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