Shungo Kusakabe, current Japanese National champion and number #1 of the Japanese ranking, signs for Black Crown and UI Sports team and becomes the first ever sponsored Japanese player for the brand.
Shungo has just finished an astonishing season where he has been able to keep the number 1 of the National ranking by wining 8 opens in the regular season and has become the first player, together with Leon Aurelius Taira, to defeat Asier Gago in the Japanese National championship, becoming the first Japanese couple to win this tournament.
“Black Crown and UI Sports have a solid project here in Japan and a clear idea of what I need to help me reach my goals as a padel player. Having the support of a World Padel Tour brand that provides me with the best equipment as well as it thinks of me as a part of their official team it is something that thrills me and motivates me. I only wish I can give back all trust they showed me”
Shungo’s goals for the forthcoming season are surprisingly clear: he would like to help the Japanese National team to reach the main draw of the next World Championship that it will take place in Qatar in November; he also wants to be the first player to be the number #1 of the Japanese National ranking for 3 consecutive years; and finally, he would like to be the first ever Asian to win one match in a FIP Star and WPT tournaments.
As for Black Crown and UI Sports it is an honour to have Shungo Kusakabe in the team. His values and the way he faces his new challenges totally matches with our vision as a brand. Today’s goal is to be a little bit better than yesterday; this is the philosophy that brought Shungo to the top and this is why we work every day.