Japan's Top Ultimate Teams Confirmed for 2017 U.S. Open
Posted: December 1, 2016 11:46 AM
UNO, Buzz Bullets First International Teams Accepted
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dec. 1, 2016) – Japan’s top ultimate teams – UNO and the Bunka Shutter Buzz Bullets – have confirmed their participation in the 2017 U.S. Open Ultimate Championships.
The two Japanese squads are the first international teams to be confirmed from a pool of more than 30 applicants.
The U.S. Open is the only major international ultimate tournament in the United States and features 36 teams – 12 each in the men’s, mixed and women’s divisions. Traditionally, the field includes a total of 12 international squads, making the application process for the 2017 edition the most competitive yet in the event’s six-year history.
The Tokyo-based Buzz Bullets are considered to be one of the best men’s teams in world. Always in contention at the quadrennial World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) World Ultimate Club Championships (WUCC), the Buzz Bullets captured a world title in 2006 before winning the bronze medal in 2010 and finishing seventh in 2014.
UNO is a women’s division team based in Aichi and also a perennial powerhouse, winning the silver medal at both the 2006 and 2010 world championships and finishing sixth in 2014.
Both the Buzz Bullets and UNO are the reigning Japanese national champions.
Next year will mark the return of Japan to the U.S. Open following the participation of 2006 World Champion MUD in the 2013 edition.
The 2017 U.S. Open will take place at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., Aug. 4-6, where it has been combined with USA Ultimate’s Youth Club Championships – the premier championship-level youth tournament in the world. In total, USA Ultimate will welcome nearly 2,500 athletes from more than 110 teams in the youth and elite-level international divisions.
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