[Handball] First Deaf Handball Training Camp of FY2026 Held

Players gathered for training with passion in their hearts

The Deaf Handball Committee of the Japan Handball Association (a public interest incorporated foundation) held its first intensive training camp of the fiscal year on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the Ajinomoto National Training Center in Tokyo.

Although this was not an official national team activity, 13 players gathered, including 10 representatives from the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, who made history last November by winning their first match in their first appearance at the Games.

The training was held with the aim of discovering new talent and improving competitive skills in preparation for international competitions following the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.

In addition to the players who bravely took on the world last year, the camp saw the participation of high school athletes joining for the first time, as well as coaches and sign language interpreters from various regions, creating a fresh and vibrant atmosphere.

Player Kai Tsumura showcased the same agile movements as during the Deaflympics.

Since the Deaflympics, players had been training individually. The camp began with basic training to carefully condition their bodies, followed by ball training to improve coordination and situational awareness.

Although it was a short two-day camp, it was a time filled with excitement and a pleasant sense of tension as members of the "Deaf Handball" community came together for the first time in a while.

The Deaf Handball Committee is committed not only to improving competitive skills to compete at the international level but also to expanding its network to create an environment where people with hearing impairments can safely take on the challenge of handball anywhere in the country.

Moving forward while expanding the base of players and staff

List of Participants for the FY2026 Deaf Handball Training Camp

*This project is implemented using subsidies from the Japan Sport Council's FY2026 Competitive Ability Improvement Project Grant and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's FY2026 Para-Sports Organization Activities Promotion Grant.