10 Rising Stars in Asia in 2021-Rui Machida (Japan)

Rui is by no means an overlooked star. She has been a key part and has had her moments as a part of the Japan national team in the past. Nonetheless, her accomplishments in the past certainly pales in comparison to what she was able to achieve in 2021.

She turned heads by dropping double-digit assists right in the very first game of the Tokyo Olympics. She followed that later by tying the Olympic single-game record at 15 assists. Her fans were probably still celebrating that record when Rui then broke her own record and the single-game record with a whopping 18 assists in the Semi-Finals.

However, more than recording-breaking amount of dimes, what was most impressive was that those assists were a key part in guiding Japan through to their Final, clinching the country’s first Olympic medal in basketball.

source：FIBA