According to Kimicho-san, spokeswoman for Abe and the rest of the athletes, Abe sees Tinian and Saipan table tennis players as strong contenders in the tournament.
Kimicho-san also said that Abe once visited Tinian several years ago on a business trip.
She added that they will do some sight-seeing on Tinian and Saipan soon after the tournament ends, saying that Abe always say that he likes to visit Saipan for its scenic spots.
Variety tried to ask Kimicho-san in what category of the tournament Abe will play. She said Abe is unsure as he is yet to learn the format of the tournament.
When asked who among the Japanese athletes would be the best bets in the tournament with CNMI’s own fine table tennis players, Kimicho-san answered Abe and Hamamoto.
Hamamoto is based on Guam. However he will be representing Guam in the matches.
Hamamoto is the only delegate from Guam.
He is an instructor of the University of Guam Japanese Table Tennis Club.
Meanwhile, Abe is a 10-time single champion in the last ball (40mm) table tennis tournament in Japan.
Abe has been playing table tennis since his junior high school years.
He has won the bronze medal in the Asian Games in New Delhi, India in 1982.
The Japanese table tennis players will compete with four players from Saipan and six players from Tinian.
Steve Lim, Sudong Li, Budhi Gurung, and Jean Shi are the four Saipan delegates who went to Tinian to compete.
The goodwill table tennis tournament will run from October 10 to 12.
According to Mario K. Espeleta, interpreter of the Japanese athletes and manager of the Pacific Development Inc., the tournament is a bi-annual event that is held on Tinian in October, and on Saipan between March and April.
