Reika Utsugi

Japanese softball player

Reika Utsugi

Personal information

Native name

宇津木麗華, Utsugi Reika

Birth name

任彦麗, Ren Yanli^[1]

Nationality

Japanese

Born

(1963-06-01) 1 June 1963 (age 60)
Beijing, China

Sport

Country

Japan

Sport

Softball

Medal record

Olympic Games

	2020 Tokyo	Softball
	2004 Athens	Softball
	2000 Sydney	Softball
World Cup
	2012 Whitehorse	Team
	2014 Haarlem	Team
	2018 Chiba	Team
Asian Games
	2018 Jakarta-Palembang	Team
	2014 Incheon	Team
	2002 Busan	Team
	1998 Bangkok	Team

Reika Utsugi (宇津木麗華, Utsugi Reika, born 1 June 1963) is a Japanese softball player who played third base. Originally from Beijing, China, she was naturalised as a Japanese citizen in 1995.^[2]^[3] She played in the Japanese teams that won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and served as manager of the team that won the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.^[4]

Naturalisation

Utsugi's original name was Ren Yanli and was born in Beijing.^[3] Against her father's wishes, she arrived in Japan in 1988 and played for Hitachi Takasaki, which was managed by Taeko Utsugi.^[3] She took her manager's name when she naturalised in 1995, becoming Reika Utsugi.^[3] Utsugi could not participate in the 1996 Summer Olympics as a Japanese representative, despite being naturalised in 1995. The regulations in the Olympic charter required China to give her permission to play for Japan, as she had changed her nationality within three years of an Olympic event. China refused, realising the competitive threat that Utsugi posed.^[3]^[5] Hence, Utsugi's first Olympic appearance for Japan was in the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Retirement

Since retiring as an athlete she has managed the softball team of Renesas Electronics. She currently manages Bic Camera Takasaki Bee Queen and has managed the Japan women's national softball team since 2011, leading them to two world titles.^[2]

References

^ "アジア女子選手権" [Asian Women's Championship]. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Japan softball manager Utsugi targets Olympic gold in 2020". The Japan Times. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "REIKA UTSUGI: Keeping Her Eye on the Ball". Trends on Japan. 16 December 2002. Retrieved 24 September 2002.
^ Reika Utsugi Biography and Olympic Results
^ Kinohara, Kumi (10 September 2000). "Utsugi ready to fulfill softball dream with Japan". The Japan Times. Retrieved 24 September 2017.