Rina Akutsu wins bronze, lifts Japan to World Championship podiums

Rina Akutsu turned one strong week into two podium finishes, and Japan’s women left Acapulco with proof that their rise in FootGolf is no fluke. Akutsu took bronze in the women’s individual competition at 24 under par, then watched Japan’s team beat Turkey 3-0 for bronze, putting the country on the World Championship podium in both draws.

The individual championship ran May 27-June 1, 2026, at the FIFG FootGolf World Championship in Acapulco, Mexico, and Akutsu finished third overall after closing with a 1-under 70. Her final-round eagle on the 18th hole sealed the medal and pushed her to 24 under, matching Japan’s best women’s individual finish at a World Championship. Nao Miura had set that standard with third place at Orlando in 2023, and Akutsu joined her on that line.

What made the result matter even more was where Akutsu stood in the field. The championship site listed her as the highest-ranked Asian player, and Japan had six players in the Top 10 during earlier rounds, a number that says as much about depth as it does about one star. Akutsu also arrived in Acapulco in strong domestic form, leading Japan’s rankings and winning six of eight events during the season.

Japan’s team result completed the picture. In the bronze-medal match, the women beat Turkey 3-0 to claim third place in the team event, giving the program another podium finish after winning the 2023 Orlando title. That kind of continuity is the real story here: Japan is not simply producing one-off contenders, but a women’s program that keeps landing among the last teams standing when the pressure is highest.

Acapulco tested that depth. The Japanese FootGolf Association said heat and humidity caused physical problems for many players, yet Akutsu still held her level through the final round and finished with the decisive strike on 18. Alongside her, Airi Itakura placed fifth or tied for fifth depending on round timing, Miura finished ninth or tied for ninth, and Nana Morisue came in 12th or tied for 12th, reinforcing how many Japanese names stayed in the mix.

For Japan, the message from this World Championship was clear. Akutsu’s bronze was not an isolated breakthrough, and the team’s 3-0 win over Turkey showed a women’s program built to contend again, not just remember 2023.