Fuyang, China, September 24, 2023: Japan’s Misaki Uchida just missed out on a medal in the women’s individual Modern Pentathlon at the Asian Games on Sunday, but can take solace in the fact that she qualified to compete in next year’s Paris Olympics with her result at the Fuyang Sports Centre.
The 25-year-old Uchida, who is taking part in her first Asian Games, celebrated the silver medal she and her Japanese teammates won in the team event the same day by taking group and individual photos with their hardware outside the venue after the competition.
Uchida, who took up the Modern Pentathlon at 18, talked about her determination this day after watching several fellow competitors tumble from their horses in the show jumping round.
“I am feeling a lot of relief,” Uchida stated. “I was very nervous at the start during the show jumping as there were a lot of falls, but I told myself I should not be defeated.”
A native of Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, Uchida is a member of the Japan Self Defense Forces. She trains five hours a day, six days a week in one of the toughest sports.
“I am disappointed because my goal was to win a medal in the individual competition,” Uchida commented.
Uchida explained how she came to take up the Modern Pentathlon.
“I was a swimmer in high school and I was scouted to try Modern Pentathlon,” recalled Uchida, who scored the highest with 295 points in the swimming round here.
Needing to be an all-around athlete to succeed in the multi-discipline sport, Uchida admitted she has her likes and dislikes.
“Swimming is the easiest for me,” Uchida noted. “Running is the toughest.”
Uchida is looking at the Paris Games as the likely finish line for her in MP.
“I think Paris may be the end for me,” Uchida said with a laugh.
Asked if she would remain in the JSDF after finishing her competitive career, Uchida confessed she is uncertain about the future.
“I have not decided yet what I will do after I retire,” Uchida stated.