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Takashima Feeling Ambitious Ahead of World Championships Debut

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASH8L3S2KH8LONFB009.html

translated and edited by Brett Larner

Set to run the women's 10000 m at the Beijing World Championships, Yuka Takashima, 27, of the Denso corporation's Daian Factory in the city of Inabe, Mie, met with Inabe mayor Yasushi Hioki on Aug. 18 to talk about her hopes and plans for the race.  A native of Yamaguchi prefecture, Takashima now runs for Denso and can sometimes be seen training on the streets of Inabe.  Facing her world-level debut, Takashima was quietly confident as she told Mayor Hioki, "My ambition to compete with the best in the world is stronger than ever."  Mayor Hioki wrote "Fly on to the world!" and a personal support message on Takashima's t-shirt. 

The World Championships begin Aug. 22 with the the women's 10000 m scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. (Japan time) on Aug. 24.  On the day of the race 200 Denso workers will watch Takashima run on TV in the factory cafeteria, while another group of 50 Denso workers in China will cheer her on in person at the stadium.
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