Japan threatens Chinese table tennis dominance after impressive golds at World Tour Grand Finals in South Korea
- Fifteen-year-old Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan becomes the youngest ever men’s singles champion in Incheon
- China captures only one gold out of five events with 2020 Olympic hosts taking two
It may be too early to say China cannot continue their domination in table tennis at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as they used to, but the “national sport” is under genuine threat as results at the World Tour Grand Finals proved.
The all-powerful Chinese legion captured only one gold medal out of all the five events in contention over the weekend in Incheon, South Korea, with 2020 Games hosts Japan wrapping up two titles in the men’s singles and women’s doubles.
At 15, Tomokazu Harimoto became the youngest ever men’s singles champion after cruising to a 4-1 win over Lin Gaoyuan of China in the final, beating the previous youngest record held by three-time Olympic silver medallist Wang Hao of China.
But more to the pain of Chinese table tennis, the Japanese youngster was born of Chinese parents in Japan but Harimoto refused to represent China. His parents are Chinese table tennis coaches who work in Japan.
Harimoto did not hide his ambition after the victory, saying his biggest target would be winning a men’s singles gold medal in Tokyo from Chinese players, who have dominated the event with five wins over the last six Olympic Games.