Women's soccer star Homare Sawa to miss Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Fifteen members of the Nadeshiko Japan soccer team who won the 2011 Women's World Cup will lead off the Tokyo Olympic Games torch relay on Thursday, but the side's biggest star will not take part due to health concerns.Homare Sawa, the most valuable player and top goal scorer of the World Cup in Germany, is dealing with a long-term condition affecting her inner ear and will not run in the relay, former Nadeshiko Japan head coach Norio Sasaki said Wednesday."We would like to ensure her passion is carried by the entire team as we kick off the torch relay," Sasaki said.Speaking at a press conf…READ FULL ARTICLE