As the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games approach, Japan is highlighting athletes with unique backgrounds, including clay target shooter Mirano Suzuki. A broadcast by Japan’s SBC Shin-Etsu featured Suzuki, noting her distinctive path to becoming a national representative.
A Surprising Start in the Modeling World
Mirano Suzuki’s journey to the shooting range is as unconventional as it is inspiring. In interviews, Suzuki revealed that during her university days, she briefly participated in entertainment activities. This led to an unexpected opportunity to appear as a model for a magazine. She explained that this early experience in magazine photoshoots, though seemingly unrelated, became a surprising stepping stone into the competitive world of clay target shooting.
“I was active in the entertainment industry as a university student,” Suzuki shared. “At that time, I had the chance to appear as a model for a magazine called ‘Model Kon’.” She elaborated that the work she did as a magazine model unexpectedly paved the way for her to enter the professional clay target shooting scene.
Dedication to the Sport and a Bold Move
While Suzuki began handling firearms in college, her commitment to achieving medal success in clay target shooting is profound. To elevate her skills, she made a significant decision last year: relocating to Nagano Prefecture. This move was driven by the desire to train in an environment renowned for its excellent facilities, ahead of the National Sports Festival of Japan, which was scheduled to be held there the following year.
The decision to move was not solely about the facilities. Suzuki expressed her satisfaction with the new surroundings, stating, “I really like the large supermarkets in the neighborhood, and it’s convenient for living because it’s close to my home. Above all, the shooting range with excellent facilities is nearby, so my performance has greatly improved since moving.”
Training Success and Current Form
The results of her dedicated training are already evident. In September, Suzuki secured 7th place in the team event at the National Sports Festival held in Aomori Prefecture, demonstrating her competitive spirit.
Suzuki feels her current condition is very strong and aims to carry this momentum into the Asian Games. “I feel that my condition is very good right now. I want to carry this good momentum through to the Asian Games,” she stated.
Ambitions for the Asian Games
At the upcoming Asian Games, Suzuki will compete in both the individual and team events for clay target shooting, focusing on hitting targets coming from both left and right. She anticipates a charged atmosphere during the competitions.
“When I actually compete, I can feel a very sharp atmosphere at the venue,” Suzuki remarked. “I hope the fans can also feel that intense tension together with us through their participation.”
With determination, Suzuki has set a clear goal for herself. “I will definitely win two medals and return from this tournament,” she vowed, underscoring her ambition to bring home hardware from the prestigious event.
