No team other than the Chinese dominate the women's artistic team gymnastics medal table on the Asian Games stage.

Can Japan finally conquer the curse in Aichi-Nagoya? Well, ending 13-straight Games might be a tall order. But the Chinese also finished ahead of their continental opposition at the Asian Championships in June. However, that will not deter the host team from trying.

"If you look at the points, it is obvious that China is the team most likely to win a gold medal. There is no denying it," two-time Olympian Sugihara Aiko said during podium training on Sunday (20 September) at Nagoya's Rainbow Hall.

"But competing with a team like that motivates us. China look wonderful but we also have our own strengths. We try to focus on ourselves because panicking about China too much is not going to do us any good.

"Our goal is to win team gold, even the smallest amount of a point is crucial and that is where we are focusing. We just want to be the best version of Japan we can be," Sugihara added.

Japan's female gymnasts eye up Asian Games upset Sugihara, who is celebrating her 27th birthday today, heads Japan's squad, which also includes Paris 2024 Olympians Kishi Rina, Okamura Mana and Nakamura Haruka as well as the teenage star Nishiyama Misa. Former world champion and Olympic medallist Murakami Mai now manages the women's team and believes their combination of youth and experience could produce something extraordinary.

Nishiyama - 2025 junior world all-around silver medallist and competing in her first Asian Games - has shot through the senior ranks this season, winning the All-Japan Championships and the NHK Trophy ahead of her four teammates.

"I'm really excited about this more than anything," said the young starlet, who turned 16 just over a fortnight ago. "There are a lot of new things for me and the others have been so supportive that I can just do my own thing.

"Tokyo will be the focus at the world championships and this is the first step towards that. The Asian Games will help me see where I am now." With the team spectacular falling between Worlds in Rotterdam, Netherlands, next month and the Olympics 12 months later, Sugihara - who was a member of China's Asian Games men's gold-winning team - is not putting too much pressure on herself.

"I personally want to make every meet count," Sugihara said. "And with this meet being in Japan, I think we can put everything into this and then make the necessary recovery over the two weeks in between (to Japan). The main thing is to stay healthy."

Written by

Tanu