Obituary: Aoi Kobayashi

The ITF is saddened to learn of the death of the Japanese official Aoi Kobayashi, who, as well as being a referee and supervisor at hundreds of ITF Circuit events, was a member of the former International Wheelchair Tennis Federation.

Kobayashi dedicated her life to tennis, but it was wheelchair tennis, in particular, where she was most instrumental.

Kobayashi was tournament referee at the Japan Open, on the Jury of Appeal for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Assistant Referee at the World Team Cup in Tokyo in 2016 and had been appointed Assistant Referee at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Japan Open Tournament Director Yoko Yanase said: “Without her, Japan Open is not big nor wonderful like the one of today. At the Japan Open site, she was often very strict towards us, but we knew it was because she loved Japan Open so much and she wanted to develop our tournament. It is a big loss for Japan Open and we do not know how we could manage it without her support.”