HOME > NATIONAL > Article

Text Size

small

medium

large


Japanese Man Dribbles Soccer Ball 2,000 km across India

Japanese Man Dribbles Soccer Ball 2,000 km across India

Nozomu Hagihara dribbles across the finish line at the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi on Thursday after a 2,000-kilometer dribbling journey in India.
Nozomu Hagihara dribbles across the finish line at the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi on Thursday after a 2,000-kilometer dribbling journey in India.

   New Delhi, May 17 (Jiji Press)--A 31-year-old Japanese man has achieved the feat of dribbling a soccer ball for about 2,000 kilometers across India, reaching his goal of New Delhi two and a half months after leaving Kolkata.
   After breaking the finish tape at the Japanese Embassy in the Indian capital Thursday, Nozomu Hagihara exchanged hugs with friends who supported him through the endeavor, tears of joy in his eyes.
   Hagihara, who is working to contribute to Indian society through soccer, plans to apply for a Guinness World Record for the longest journey dribbling a soccer ball. His accomplishment far exceeds the current record, held by an Australian man who dribbled 337 kilometers in seven days in 2023.
   After playing soccer for 19 years in Japan, including on a professional club's youth team and at university, Hagihara came to India in 2021 as a staff member of a nongovernmental organization.
   He founded a soccer team for children, FC Nono, in the eastern state of Bihar, which is said to be among the poorest states in the country.

To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.

NATIONAL

HEADLINES

POLITICS
China's Xi, Russia's Putin Opposed to Resolving Iran Nuclear Issue Militarily
ECONOMY
Japan Govt to Cut Monthly Superlong JGB Sale by 100 B. Yen from July
SPORTS
Boxing: Norman from US Defeats Japan's Sasaki in WBO Welterweight Title Match
OTHER
Israel Strikes Heavy Water Reactor in Iran

AFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL


Photos