Japanese volleyball star Yuji Nishida went viral for his on-court actions over the weekend. But it wasn’t his spike, set or serve that caught fans’ attention.
The 26-year-old was taking part in a half-time serving challenge at the SV League all-star event in Kobe in western Japan when one of his hits veered off course.
Nishida was left horrified when his left-handed strike flew way left of the side boundary line and rocketed into the back of a poor, unsuspecting female judge.
Mortified, Nishida swiftly tried to make amends as he raced across the court and flew onto his stomach, sliding under the net with his nose to the ground and his arms tucked into his side.
He slid all the way to the feet of the judge, and when his 6-foot-1 frame finally came to a stop, he took chivalry to the next level.
Nishida got to his knees and proceeded to bow profusely, even clasping his hands together in front of his chest.
Japanese volleyball star Yuji Nishida went viral for his on-court actions this weekend
The 26-year-old slid across the court in apology after hitting one of the female judges
Nishida accidentally hit the female judge after one if his serves veered way left
He continued the action as he rose to his feet, which sparked a similar gesture from the judge, who had regained her composure after being left rattled but unharmed.
His groveling apology sparked laughter and applause among the spectators and his teammates, while attracting admiration online.
‘That slide says respect and sincerity louder than words,’ one user gushed.
‘Dude, that slide looks painful,’ claimed another, while a third added: ‘He knows how to pay respect and sincerity via a crazy good slide.’
After recovering from his blunder, Nishida, who is the captain of Osaka Bluteon, went on to impress in the all-star matchup.
He helped his side to a 3-0 victory, scooping up the MVP award along the way, according to The Guardian.
Nishida’s gesture, known as dogeza, is a traditional Japanese form of apology and plea. It normally involves kneeling on the ground and bowing so that the forehead touches the floor.
Dogeza is typically reserved for moments of deep remorse or strong demonstrations of respect.
