Athletes of Wheelchair Athletics Whom NTN Provides Technical Support Participate in the World Championships

Supporting athletes' performance in the international competition from behind the scenes NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) hereby announces that athletes of wheelchair athletics of Mr. Tomoya Ito (belonging to Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd) and Mr. Hirokazu Ueyonabaru (belonging to SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.), whom we have been providing technical support, will participate in the “New Delhi 2025 Para Athletics World Championships” held from September 27 to October 5 in New Delhi, India. NTN will continue to support both athletes' performance in the international competition through providing technical support including providing bearings specially developed for sports wheelchairs and tuning work. NTN has been providing bearings specially developed for the wheels of the “racer,” a sports wheelchair with both athletes since 2021. Bearings are components typically hidden from view, but they play a vital role in supporting the rotation of every machinery used in the society. They are not merely components that rotate; they must meet a wide range of performance requirements such as high speed rotation, load capacity, and electrical pitting, depending on the characteristics of the machinery. Since its founding over 100 years ago, NTN has been responding to these demands with its accumulated technological expertise. Bearings are a crucial factor in enhancing the driving performance of sports wheelchairs. However, the loads can vary depending on the athlete's posture and strategy during race. In addition, unpredictable weather conditions and even the athlete's own feeling can influence performance. As a result, the technical considerations for the bearings differ significantly from those for general machinery, making the development of bearings for wheels of sports wheelchairs a major challenge for us. The bearings provided to both athletes are specially developed through repeated adjustments while taking into account a variety of factors. To reduce rotational torque, the rolling elements are changed from conventional steel to lightweight ceramic balls. In addition, a lubricant with optimal viscosity is selected to balance torque and durability. Furthermore, by conducting trial runs, the internal clearance of the bearings is fine-tuned through a process of trial and error to match the feel of the wheels to each athlete's preferences and sensations. Through this technical support, NTN has contributed to the performance of both athletes in international competitions since 2021. NTN develops and supplies bearings for a wide range of fields, including automobiles and various industrial machinery, contributing to reducing environmental impact through energy-saving technologies in each machinery, as well as improving the safety, reliability, and comfort of vehicles. Leveraging our extensive expertise in bearings, we will continue to provide maximum support to both athletes during this championship.