Goalball: The Battle for Japan's Top Spot Begins! Announcement of the "2026 Japan Goalball Championship Women's Qualifying Tournament"

The Japan Goalball Association (JGBA) is pleased to announce the "2026 Japan Goalball Championship Women's Qualifying Tournament" to be held on July 19 (Sun) and July 20 (Mon, holiday), 2026, at Tokorozawa Civic Gymnasium (Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture).

This tournament is the women's qualifying event to determine eligibility for the "2026 Japan Goalball Championship," which decides the top club team in the nation. This year, 10 teams from across the country have entered. Only the top 6 teams will advance to the final tournament, promising fierce competition for a ticket to become Japan's best.

Goalball is a universal sport that can be played not only by athletes with visual impairments but also by sighted athletes. All players wear eye shades and rely solely on the sound of the ball's bell to play. The sophisticated tactics involving speed, power, and sound, played out on a 9m x 18m court, are the true essence of goalball that can only be experienced live.

We invite you to come and witness the passionate matches of these athletes! We sincerely look forward to your attendance.

<2026 Japan Goalball Championship Women's Qualifying Tournament Overview>

[Date and Time] July 19, 2026 (Sun) Competition starts at 10:00 AM (scheduled), July 20, 2026 (Mon, holiday) Competition starts at 9:30 AM

[Venue] Tokorozawa Civic Gymnasium (5-3-1 Namiki, Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, 359-0042)

[Organizer] Japan Goalball Association

[Sponsors] Tokorozawa City, Tokorozawa City Board of Education

[Tournament Suppliers] Oisix Ra Daichi Inc., Kinjo Gom Co., Ltd., PR TIMES Inc., Senkyakuraku Co., Ltd.

[Participants] Rieko Takahashi (Mer Elan), Minami Arai (Merveilles), Norika Hagiwara (Shiny One), Saki Amuro and Ayumi Kamiya (Team Fukuzou), Yu Kimura (ELFI), Yuki Tenma, Masae Komiya, and Rie Urata (Nadeshiko), among others.

<Participating Teams and Pool Assignments>

Pool A

A-1 ELFI (Started: 2026, Base: University of Tsukuba School for Visually Impaired)

A-2 Comjin (Started: 2025, Base: Edogawa Ward Sports Center)

A-3 RE☆STARTS (Started: 2023, Base: Kanagawa Prefectural Sports Center)

A-4 Mer Elan (Started: 2026, Base: Hyogo, Kyoto)

A-5 Shiny One (Started: 2024, Base: Tokyo Metropolitan Sports Center for the Disabled)

Pool B

B-1 OHANA (Started: 2026, Base: Abiko City, Chiba Prefecture)

B-2 Nadeshiko (Started: 2022, Base: Fukuoka Center for the Visually Impaired)

B-3 Juntendo University (Started: 2018, Base: Juntendo University Sakura Campus)

B-4 Merveilles (Started: 2014, Base: Tokyo, Tsukuba, Fukushima)

B-5 Team Fukuzou (Started: 2001, Base: University of Tsukuba School for Visually Impaired Gymnasium)

<YouTube Streaming>

Live streaming will be available on the official JGBA YouTube account.

https://youtube.com/@goalballchanneljapan?feature=shared

For other details, please check the tournament special page.

https://jgba.or.jp/2026womens-qualifying-tournament02