Masae Komiya Explained

Masae Komiya
Birth Date:8 May 1975
Birth Place:Fukuoka Prefecture,[1] Japan
Height:167 cm
Weight:57 kg
Education:Kyushu Sangyo University
Disability Class:B1[2] (formerly B2)

is a Japanese goalball player with a congenital visual impairment. She was part of the bronze medal-winning Japanese women's team at the 2004 Summer Paralympics.[3] At the 2012 Summer Paralympics she captained the gold medal-winning Japanese women's team. After the game she stated "The day [we waited for] finally came. I was so overcome with emotion that I couldn't finish singing the 'Kimigayo' national anthem."[4]

Her impairment was caused by retinitis pigmentosa, which destroyed her vision in both eyes when she was in primary school.[1] She began playing in 2001. Her coach, Naoki Eguro, introduced her to the sport.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ゴールボール選手 小宮正江プロフィール. ja. C's Athlete. 8 January 2020.
  2. Web site: Goalball Women Quarterfinal Start List. 2016 Summer Paralympics. 14 September 2016. 25 January 2020.
  3. Web site: Komiya Masae. International Paralympic Committee. 22 January 2020. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002501/http://ipc.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/TheASP.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=542&personid=1037001. dead.
  4. Web site: Japan tops China for goalball gold. https://web.archive.org/web/20121024130858/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/T120908002833.htm. 24 October 2012. The Daily Yomiuri. 9 September 2012. 22 January 2020.