When it comes to the Nagai family, hockey is very much in the blood. With both their mother and father being former international hockey players, Japanese siblings Yuri and Hazuki Nagai were given an early introduction to a sport in which they have excelled.
The sisters are both hugely important players for Sakura Japan, with the duo playing central roles in all of the successes of the recent past including gold medal winning performances at the 2018 Asian Games (Jakarta, Indonesia), 2021 Asian Champions Trophy (Donghae, Korea) and 2022 Asia Cup (Muscat, Oman).
At the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the Nagai sisters became three-time Olympians. It is a remarkable feat, beyond even their wildest dreams when growing up in Kakamigahara, a city in Gifu prefecture that has hosted numerous world level hockey events down the years.
“We are both very proud to have played three Olympics together”, said 29-year-old midfielder Hazuki, speaking shortly after her team’s 3-0 Pool A defeat against Belgium on Wednesday (31 July). “We played at Rio 2016 and our home Olympics at Tokyo 2020, and it is very special to be playing together at the Olympics in Paris”.
As if two siblings playing international hockey was not enough, Yuri and Hazuki’s younger brother Yuma Nagai is a player for Samurai Japan, having represented the men’s team at Tokyo 2020. “It really is amazing that we have all done so well,” continued Yuri. “It is very cool.”
While being able to represent Japan at three Olympic Games remains a huge source of pride, their team have so far struggled to get the results they need in order to progress into the quarter-final stage of the competition. Defeats by Germany (2-0), China (5-0) and Belgium (3-0) leaves the team sitting in fifth in Pool B with matches against France and competition favourites the Netherlands remaining.
“We are frustrated as we played well against Belgium but it just didn’t happen”, said team captain Yuri, 32. “We have to win our next match, that is certain.”
That next match takes place on Thursday evening (19:45 CEST), with host nation France being the opponent in front of a packed and boisterous Yves-du-Manoir Stadium. The atmosphere is sure to be something special, and Yuri Nagai is particularly excited about the prospect.
“The French fans have been amazing, and I think it will be a great experience for us to play in front of them”, said Yuri, who experienced a home Olympics in Tokyo without spectators due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 global health pandemic. “It will be difficult but it is very exciting for us.”
The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 take place from Saturday 27 July to Friday 9 August. Both the men’s and women’s competitions feature 12 teams, split into two pools of six ahead of quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches. For more information about the hockey competitions at Paris 2024, visit Olympics.Hockey.
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