Ryujin Nippon’s Ran Takahashi continues to be in awe of the tremendous support he has received from Filipino fans during his visits to the country for the Volleyball Nations League (VNL).
Takahashi, who is currently in the Philippines as the newest ambassador for Akari, has already experienced the passion of the Filipino crowd three times during the VNL editions hosted in the country.
“When I come to the Philippines, I’m really amazed. I came to the Philippines for the VNL rounds and was really surprised,” Takahashi shared through an interpreter during a press conference at the Biopolis in Pasay City on Friday.
“The fans support me so strongly that the stadium was literally shaking. I feel a lot of emotions and truly feel the support of the Filipino fans,” added Takahashi, who later attended a meet-and-greet event at SM Megamall to promote the ‘Ran Takahashi Turbo Fan.’
The 6-foot-2 standout from Nippon Sport Science University first appeared in the Philippines during the 2022 VNL. He returned the following year with the Japan national team, and most recently in June, where he played one game before heading back to Japan to recover from a nagging knee injury.
At just 22 years old, Takahashi has already competed in two Olympics, representing Japan on home soil in 2022 and again at the 2024 Paris Games. He was also a key part of the Ryujin Nippon squad that won the 2023 Men’s Asian Volleyball Championship.
Despite his early success, Takahashi emphasizes the importance of staying grounded. He believes humility is a crucial trait for any professional athlete.
“I’m not taking the support for granted. Being humble is really important for me as I grow. I think humbleness is a really important factor,” he said.
