On August 6, YAMANE Chika (4th year, School of Education) won third place in the individual competition division of the 62nd All Japan Student Naginata Championships held at the Nagano Prefectural Budokan (Saku City, Nagano Prefecture)!

Naginata is a sport in which people wear protective gear and compete against each other by hitting each other at a specified part of the body. Okayama University does not have a Naginata club, but Ms. Yamane has been practicing and honing her skills in her hometown in the northern part of Okayama Prefecture as an individual activity.

After winning this year's prize, Ms.Yamane said, "In the match, I was able to calmly aim for ippon and show my best side. I am grateful for the teachers who have been teaching me since I was in elementary school and for the opportunity to continue training with elementary, junior high, and high school students in local sports youth groups and club activities. My dream is to become a teacher in the northern part of Okayama Prefecture next year and promote Naginata not only as an athlete but also as a member of the community," she said.

Ms.Yamane will represent the prefecture at the National Athletic Competition to be held in Kagoshima Prefecture in October.