Asian Para Games: Endo eyes boccia pinnacle after final loss at worlds

From Kyodo

October 14 2026

TOKYO – Japan’s Hiromi Endo arrives at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games sitting second in the women’s boccia world rankings and looking to go one better than her runner-up finish at the recent world championships.

Playing in the BC1 category for athletes with significant impairment of all four limbs and trunk, the 40-year-old emerged as Japan’s leading figure in boccia after the individual men’s and women’s events were adopted for the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Her ability to throw an accurate long ball to place the Jack — a white target ball thrown first in each of four ends — toward the far end of the court has stood out, helping her win bronze on her Paralympics debut in Paris in 2024 before going all the way to win the Asia-Oceania Regional Championships in Thailand last year.

But her strong form faltered with her final loss at the worlds in Seoul in early September when she allowed her Indonesian opponent to take control in both ends of the court before going down 8-2.

“My prime target is to win the medal with the best color,” said Endo, who has been analyzing her high-level rivals from the continent ahead of the home games. “The motivation to practice welled up inside because of the frustration.”

Endo says she either watches a movie or visits a shrine ahead of tournaments to raise her concentration level. On this occasion, she did the latter, visiting a shrine in Sendai known for its god of victory in late September.

“I was able to go through my routine well,” said Endo, who also bought an “omamori” charm ahead of the big occasion. “I can’t keep settling for silver medals.”