Last Updated: 2023.02.07
UNIQLO and Shingo Kunieda Hold Press Conference Following Wheelchair Tennis Champion's Retirement - "I've lived the best life in tennis."
UNIQLO CO., LTD.
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UNIQLO and its global brand ambassador, world no. 1 wheelchair tennis player1 Shingo Kunieda, held a news conference at UNIQLO's Ariake Headquarters in Tokyo, following Mr. Kunieda's recent retirement from the sport.
(From left) Chairman, President & CEO of Fast Retailing Tadashi Yanai, and Shingo Kunieda
Speaking in front of an audience of approximately 200 media guests, Mr. Kunieda expressed his gratitude to his family, friends, and fans, saying, "I want to say that I've lived the best life in tennis."
Expressing his appreciation for Mr. Kunieda's unparalleled achievements, Chairman, President & CEO of Fast Retailing Tadashi Yanai said, "It's a little sad, but today is also a day that a new Shingo Kunieda is born. Going forward, I will continue to support him to the fullest extent, and I have high expectations for Kunieda's future as a role model for young people."
Since Shingo Kunieda became its first global brand ambassador in 2009, UNIQLO has been supporting the wheelchair tennis champion for over 10 years, providing its LifeWear apparel for tennis matches and training, and other activities. Over the course of the partnership, UNIQLO and Mr. Kunieda have also worked together on a wide range of social support initiatives, including recovery support following the Great East Japan Earthquake, UNIQLO's Next Generation Development Program to nurture the world's young people, and Spo-GOMI.2
UNIQLO is a long-time supporter of wheelchair tennis and sponsors the International Tennis Federation's UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, which is one of the largest international competition programs in parasports. Going forward, UNIQLO will continue working closely with Mr. Kunieda on programs and activities that will make the world a better place.
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■ About Shingo Kunieda
Born February 21, 1984, in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
Shingo Kunieda started playing wheelchair tennis at age 11. Competing in five consecutive Paralympic Games, from Athens in 2004 to Tokyo in 2021, Kunieda has won four Paralympic gold medals: three in singles and one in doubles. Kunieda has also won 50 Grand Slam titles: 28 in singles and 22 in doubles. He has ranked No. 1 in year-end global player rankings a record 10 times.
Shingo Kunieda's official website: https://shingokunieda.com/ -
1. Men's Singles ranking as of January 22, 2023
2. A sport in which participants and their team members remove garbage from streets within a specified time and compete for points based on the quantity and quality of garbage collected.
