Tokito Oda's Mission: Make Wheelchair Tennis as Popular as Baseball in Japan

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Japanese wheelchair tennis superstar Tokito Oda, 19, became the youngest winner of the men's singles title at the fabled US Open tournament in New York on September 6. He thus achieved a "Career Golden Slam" by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles as well as the Paralympics. 

This was Oda's last chance to perform the feat as a teenager. And he entered the tournament declaring that he would accomplish his goal. 

Interestingly, Oda's first name Tokito (凱人) includes a Chinese character (凱) used in the Japanese name for the "Arc de Triomphe" (凱旋門). At the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympics, he commented that he was "carrying out the script that fate had written for him." He then went on to win a gold medal.

Uncompromising Commitment

What allows Oda to match his words with deeds? They are his uncompromising commitment to practicing and his determination to project a sense of being "cool." Thus, he acts as a source of hope for the next generation.

When he was in the third grade of elementary school, Oda developed osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. That caused him to lose the use of his left leg. He was forced to abandon his dream of becoming a soccer player. 

However, Oda found new hope in the heroics of Shingo Kunieda, who won the wheelchair tennis championship at the 2012 London Paralympics. Ever since, he followed in Kunieda's footsteps, becoming the third player in both men's and women's singles competition to achieve a Career Golden Slam. He is the second in Japan to do so, after Kunieda.

When Roger Federer, an all-time great male tennis player, was once asked by a Japanese reporter, "Why doesn't Japan produce any world-class players?" Federer replied, "Well, you have Kunieda, don't you?"

The reporter's question also indicated how awareness of sports participation by people with disabilities has been low in Japan compared to Europe. 

Raising Public Awareness

Public perceptions have changed, however, because of the achievements of pioneers such as the retired Kunieda, who long dominated his sport, and Mayumi Narita, who won 15 gold medals in swimming at various Paralympics. They have raised the status of parasports and these superb athletes. Incidentally, Narita, whose nickname was "The Queen of Water," passed away on September 5. 

Oda's achievement and the success of Yui Kamiji, who won her third title in the women's wheelchair singles at the same US Open, have built on this legacy.

Even after the win, Oda seemed a bit dissatisfied at the post-match press conference. The court for the final was small with few spectator seats. He lamented: "I wanted to play in a stadium [that can accommodate a large crowd]. I'm confident the spectators would have enjoyed the match. 

"Para sports should be better known. And I would like to see more people watch wheelchair tennis, too, so that the number of fans increases. I'd most like to see the sport become as popular as baseball here in Japan.

Oda has a sense of mission to make his dream a reality. And who's to say he won't be able to make it happen? 

The sky's the limit. That's how fun, thrilling and exciting Oda's matches are to watch. 

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• [ODDS and EVENS] Laureus World Sports Awards a Celebration of Great Achievements

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

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