 Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Kuita kwake kwakanakisa kwa2002 kwakauya kumakwikwi enyika, asi chiratidzo chake chaive chisina kukwana kukunda Ota. Vose vari vaviri Imai naOta vakakundikana pa2002 Asian Athletics ChampionshipsKusvetuka kwaImai kwakanga kwakakwana bedzi nokuda kwechina nepo Ota akanga ane zvinetso zvakatoipisisa, anenge masendimita mashanu shure. Mwaka wa2003 wakanga uri wekupedzisira umo Imai akakwanisa kupfuura 1.90 m. Akaenzana rekodhi yake yemukati kechipiri paSparkassen Cup uye aive nemwaka wakanakisa we1.92 m kumusangano weShizuoka International. Akabvisa chiratidzo chimwe chete kuti akunde Ota kuenda kunzvimbo yenyika, asi akatadza kuita budiriro pa2003 World Championships muAthletics. 