Ayaka Ikehara

Ayaka Ikehara
Personal information
Born (1990-09-24) 24 September 1990
Urasoe, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Height 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Playing position Right wing
Club information
Current club Odense Håndbold
Number 21
Senior clubs
Years Team
2012–2017
 MIE violet' IRIS
2017–2020
 Nykøbing Falster
2020–2023
 Odense Håndbold
2023–
 Nykøbing Falster
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–
 Japan 37 (95)
Medal record
Asian Championship
Silver medal – second place 2018 Japan

Ayaka Ikehara (born 24 September 1990) is a Japanese handball player for Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub and the Japanese national team.

Early life

Ikehara was born on 24 September 1990 in Urasoe, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.[1][2]

Career

In 2013, Ikehara was selected for the Japan women's national team that took part in the 2013 World Women's Handball Championship in Serbia.[3] Japan were eliminated in the round of 16 after losing 27–19 to France.[4]

She was again selected for Japan at the 2015 World Women's Handball Championship in Denmark.[5] Japan did not fare as well after being eliminated in the preliminary group stage. They participated in the President's Cup play-off, losing 29–24 to China before defeating Puerto Rico 44–15.[6]

In 2017, she joined Nykøbing Falster in Denmark and began playing in the Damehåndboldligaen.[2]

Ikehara was again part of the Japan squad at the 2017 World Women's Handball Championship in Germany. Japan finished third in their group after wins against Montenegro and Tunisia. In the round of 16, they faced the Netherlands and were eliminated after losing 26–24 after extra time.[7]

The 2019 World Women's Handball Championship was held in Japan and Ikehara was again part of the squad. Japan fared well at the tournament as the host nation. In the preliminary round, they defeated Argentina, DR Congo and China which saw them qualify for the main round as the third-placed team in their group. However, they were eliminated in the main round after winning just one of their five group matches.[8]

In 2020, Ikehara joined Odense Håndbold of Denmark.[2] With Odense Håndbold, Ikehara twice won the Damehåndboldligaen in 2020–21 and 2021–22.[9][10]

Ikehara made her Olympic debut at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.[1] Despite a 29–26 victory against Montenegro, Japan were eliminated at the group stage.[11]

In 2023, Ikehara returned to Nykøbing Falster.[2]

Achievements

Individual awards

References

  1. ^ a b "Ayaka Ikehara". Olympedia. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ikehara Ayaka". European Handball Federation. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  3. ^ "XXI Women's World Championship 2013. Team Roster, Japan" (PDF). International Handball Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  4. ^ "World Championship Women 2013". FlashScore. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  5. ^ "第22回女子世界選手権" [22nd Women's World Championship] (in Japanese). Japan Handball Association. 26 November 2015. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  6. ^ "World Championship Women 2015". FlashScore. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  7. ^ "World Championship Women 2017". FlashScore. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  8. ^ "World Championship Women 2019". FlashScore. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Bambusa Kvindeligaen Women 2020/2021". FlashScore. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Bambusa Kvindeligaen Women 2021/2022". FlashScore. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  11. ^ "2020 Summer Olympics, Handball, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
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