In a short series, IFAF looks back at some of the highlights and stories that emerged from the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Finland at the end of August, continuing with Japan’s bronze medal win in the women’s bracket.
Japan’s women’s national team were long overdue winning a medal at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships.
Not since 2006 when silver was the consolation for a 46-32 title game loss to France in Korea has Japan stood on the world podium. At the prior world championships in 2021 Japan finished sixth and were knocked out of The World Games in 2022 in the quarterfinals.
Having been crowned continental champions by storming to the Asia-Oceania title last summer, winning every game, the signs were clear that Japan could head home with a reward for the first time in 18 years.
And they did just that in an emotional and nerve-wracking 41-40 win over Austria.
Quarterback Chihiro Iwata executed the Japanese offense game plan to perfection on the bronze medal game’s final drive. Japan fought back from trailing with almost a minute to play and then denied Austria to win by the slimmest of margins as the defense held firm at the Lahti Sports Centre in Finland.
“I am a lawyer in the U.S., and I am a single mom with a three-year-old and I left them in Japan and I worked so hard at the weekends to go to practice, so this means a lot to me,” said a tearful wide receiver Fuyuki Hamaguchi. “I wanted to get a medal to take home for my son.
“This place is so nice, and it already feels like my second home. The people are so friendly, and I am so glad to be here and to win with Japan.”
Drawn into a potentially difficult Group C with a German team ranked eighth in the world, 13th ranked Brazil, hosts Finland and newcomers Poland, third seed Japan opened with two wins. But Germany produced an upset when the two unbeaten teams met, winning 31-28 having trailed at halftime.
That left Germany top of the final group standings at 4-0, while 3-1 Japan found themselves drawn against Australia in the Round of 16 knockout stages. The team they had beaten 47-29 at the EV Arena Shah Alam in Malaysia to become Asia-Oceania’s champions were brushed aside 27-13 to set up a quarterfinal clash with European champions Great Britain.
Great Britain held a 21-20 edge at halftime and midway through the second half led 34-26 before Yurika Omi rushed for a touchdown and a successful point after try cut the deficit to one point. Japan’s defense forced a turnover on downs, giving the offense 1:38 to win the game.
It was Tomoyo Yagi whose five-yard pass to Yurika Omi clinched the win and Japan’s defense again held strong, breaking up a pass in the end zone as time expired.
Mexico proved too strong in the semifinal, but Japan bounced back in pursuit of the bronze medal.
Photo: Ian Humes
