At the prefectural Ikushima court in Takamatsu, junior high school tennis competitors gathered on the 29th for the doubles tournament of the Zenkoku Chugakusei Tennis Senshuken Shikoku Yosen (National Junior High School Tennis Championships Shikoku Qualifiers). Across both the men’s and women’s divisions, eight pairs representing their respective prefectures competed for regional supremacy and advancement.
In the women’s bracket, Sakiho Kato and Oo of Shiun Junior High School captured the tournament crown, delivering a dominant performance through the regional rounds. Their victory highlights a strong showing for Kagawa Prefecture’s local standouts on the regional stage.
Men’s Division Highlights and Runner-Up Finish
In the men’s tournament, the pairing of Maeda and Yamamoto representing Ryoun Junior High School secured a hard-fought second-place finish. Navigating a competitive field of prefectural representatives from across the Shikoku region, the Ryoun duo battled through demanding baseline exchanges before ultimately finishing as the tournament runners-up.
The Shikoku qualifiers brought together the top two doubles pairs from each of the four prefectures in the region—Tokushima, Kochi, Ehime, and Kagawa—testing young athletes under high-stakes tournament pressure.
Tournament Context and Regional Pathways
The event at the prefectural Ikushima court serves as a crucial stepping stone toward the national competition. Pairs entering the Shikoku qualifiers must first survive rigorous municipal and prefectural tournaments before earning the right to represent their home areas at the regional level.
Local sports authorities and school officials noted that the tournament provides essential developmental experience for junior high competitors, exposing them to high-level pressure matches against the region’s elite youth talent.
Next Steps in the Championship Calendar
With the Shikoku qualifiers concluded, successful pairs now turn their attention toward final preparations for the upcoming national championship fixtures. Official updates and bracket announcements regarding the main national tournament will be released through regional governing bodies in the coming weeks.
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