Ayaka Ikehara (born 24 September 1990) is a Japanese handball player for Nykøbing Falster HÃÂ¥ndboldklub and the Japanese national team.
Ikehara was born on 24 September 1990 in Urasoe, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
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. Japan were eliminated in the round of 16 after losing 27âÂÂ19 to France.
She was again selected for Japan at the 2015 World Women's Handball Championship in Denmark. Japan did not fare as well after being eliminated in the preliminary group stage. They participated in the President's Cup play-off, losing 29âÂÂ24 to China before defeating Puerto Rico 44âÂÂ15.
In 2017, she joined Nykøbing Falster in Denmark and began playing in the DamehÃÂ¥ndboldligaen.
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 26âÂÂ24 after extra time.
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.
In 2020, Ikehara joined Odense HÃÂ¥ndbold of Denmark. With Odense HÃÂ¥ndbold, Ikehara twice won the DamehÃÂ¥ndboldligaen in 2020âÂÂ21 and 2021âÂÂ22.
Ikehara made her Olympic debut at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Despite a 29âÂÂ26 victory against Montenegro, Japan were eliminated at the group stage.
In 2023, Ikehara returned to Nykøbing Falster.