Kumasawa tips Kenya to shine at volleyball World Cup
Former Japan international volleyball star Ahn Kumasawa has tipped the Kenyan national team to impress at the upcoming World Cup.
Kumasawa was among the star players in the 2011 World Cup. Her attacking skills propelled Japan to a top four finish at the competition.
“The Kenyan women team has vastly improved. Before, we could beat them easily, but now they are giving Japanese clubs a hard time on the courts and even winning and couple of sets.
“I rank them as the best placed team to pull surprises at the World Cup, and that is if teams don’t take them seriously,” the ex-international said.
Although she has now retired from professional volleyball and is married with two kids, Kumasawa, 31, still juggles her day job at the Hitachi motors with training young players.
The Malkia Strikers will begin their World Cup campaign against Cuba on Saturday morning.