ASIAN GAMES: Japan determined to bounce back at London 2012

JAPANESE team officials believe they can push further in to the top ten of the Olympic medal table at London 2012 - despite a series of disappointing performances at the Asian Games.

ABSENT: Uchimura Kohei was a high-profile absentee from the Japan team at the Asian Games - but will be back for London 2012 (Reuters)

Noriyuki Ichihara, the chef de mission of the Japanese team in Guangzhou, believes everything is on course to eclipse their previous best haul of 15 Olympic golds, achieved in Athens six years ago.
Japan ranked eighth on the medal table in Beijing with 25 podium places, including nine golds.
Previously they dominated Asiads but injuries - double all-around world gymnastics champion Uchimura Kohei is absent - and poor performances, with four-time Olympic champion Kosuke Katajima disappointing in the pool, mean they trail China and Korea in the current medal standings.
"We always viewed these Games as a valuable learning experience in our preparations for London 2012," said Ichihara.
"We will learn the lessons and work harder towards our goals.
"We won 15 gold medals in Athens and I would like to better that achievement in London, without making a specific prediction.
"We have strong financial backing from the government which has helped us maintain our strong tradition in sports likes swimming, wrestling and judo but also develop medal talent in other sports, like athletics, table tennis and rowing."