Penalty hero rues empty seats as Games hosts Japan win football gold
NAGOYA: Penalty hero Yuzuho Shiokoshi hopes more people will come and watch Japanese women’s football after the hosts won Asian Games gold in front of thousands of empty seats.
NAGOYA: Yuzuho Shiokoshi, the penalty hero for the Japanese women's football team, expressed disappointment over the sparse attendance at the Asian Games final in Shizuoka. Despite the team's penalty shootout victory against North Korea, a crowd of around 6,000 spectators witnessed the match, which ended 2-2 after extra time. The stadium, once a venue for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, typically holds 50,000 people.
Shiokoshi's impressive fifth penalty was instrumental in securing the win, but she noted that the crowd was larger than the 998 fans who attended Japan's semi-final against South Korea in Shizuoka.
The Asian Games in Japan have struggled with low turnout at various events, including the opening ceremony. Shiokoshi, who scored the decisive penalty, acknowledged that the current turnout might be better than previous tournaments but still falls short of expectations. She emphasized the team's hard-fought effort and the desire for more spectators to attend matches in person.
Shiokoshi highlighted the challenges faced by women's football, particularly in terms of TV coverage, and expressed hope that the victory would encourage more people to watch domestic WE League matches. She also expressed a desire for sustained interest, hoping that the excitement generated by the gold medal would translate into greater support for women's football in Japan.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
