‘Greatest athletic achievement and honor I will ever have in my life,’ Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron


‘Greatest athletic achievement and honor I will ever have in my life,’ Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron

Naomi Osaka

‘Let the Games begin!’ It was a huge moment for Japan and the tennis world as Japanese tennis star and one of the biggest names in women’s tennis currently, Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic Cauldron and declared the Games ‘Open’.

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The Olympic torch, that travels throughout the world reached the Olympic Stadium for the final time, and it was Naomi Osaka who did the honors wo carrying the flame towards the cauldron and lighting it at the Olympic ceremony.

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka

The Japanese superstar has been in the center of a controversy surrounding the press conferences in tennis. During the French Open, she openly said that she won’t be doing the press conferences during the tournament as it affected her mental health and later withdrew from the tournament due to backlash.

Naomi has been out of action since her withdrawal and will be back on court at the Olympics where goes in as the second seed. Naomi too took to twitter and described it as the ‘Greatest athletic achievement and honor she will ever have in her life.’

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‘Undoubtedly the greatest athletic achievement and honor I will ever have in my life. I have no words to describe the feelings I have right now but I do know I am currently filled with gratefulness and thankfulness, love you guys thank you’ she wrote.

Naomi Osaka eyeing for Gold on home soil

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka

2nd seed Naomi Osaka is one of the overwhelming favorites to win the gold medal at Tokyo. She will begin her campaign against Chinese Saisai Zheng and is expected to face Viktorija Golubic in the second round. She has a fairly easy draw ahead and will fancy her chances for Olympic glory next week.

She could face Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals and either of Elina Svitolina or Jennifer Brady in the semifinals. She could then face top seed Ash Barty in the gold medal match.

Also read: ‘Djokovic, Barty and Osaka are the top favourites to win Gold at the 2020 Olympics’: Todd Woodbridge

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