Daisuke Ikezaki

Started: He took up the sport in 2008. (Athlete, 04 Sep 2016) Reason: He used to play wheelchair basketball but found the game difficult because of his impairment. He was encouraged to take up wheelchair rugby by a friend who played for the Hokkaido Big Dippers in Japan, and he made the switch because he wanted to win a medal at the Paralympic Games. (1242.com, 25 Oct 2018; yomiuri.co.jp, 10 May 2016) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (nhk.or.jp, 05 Dec 2023) Awards: He was named Most Valuable Player [MVP] at the 2019 National Championships in Japan. (mitsuifudosan.co.jp, 26 Feb 2020) He received the MVP Award at the 2018 World Championships in Sydney, NSW, Australia. (1242.com, 25 Oct 2018; paralympic.org, 10 Aug 2018) He was named Best Player of Class 3.0 at the national championships in Japan in 2012 and 2016. (glitters.jp, 18 Dec 2016; wahho.jp, 14 Dec 2012) In 2016 he was given a Special Award by the Hokkaido Para Sports Association in Japan. (do-syospo.or.jp, 28 Oct 2016) In 2016 he received the Hakodate City Honorary Award in Japan. (city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp, 18 Oct 2016) He was named Best Player of Class 3.0 and MVP at the 2015 Asia Oceania Championships in Japan. (mitsubishicorp.com, 10 Aug 2018; jwrugby.com, 02 Nov 2015) He was voted Best Player of Class 3.0 at the 2011 Asia Oceania Championships in Seoul, Republic of Korea. (mitsubishicorp.com, 01 Jul 2016) He was named Best Player at the 2010 World Championships in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (mitsuifudosan.co.jp, 01 Apr 2016) Additional Info: OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE In April 2018 he relocated to United States of America, where he played for the University of Arizona Wildcats for two years. (drc.arizona.edu, 01 Jan 2018; bs4.jp, 08 Jul 2018; jpn.nec.com, 31 Mar 2020)