The Harimoto siblings, Tomokazu Harimoto and Miwa Harimoto, have etched their names in table tennis history by both advancing to the semi-finals of the World Cup, marking the first time a pair of siblings have medaled in the singles event.
In a thrilling display of talent, Tomokazu secured his spot in the next round with a commanding 4-2 victory over Anton Kallberg, showcasing his skill and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats from the very first point. As a finalist at the 2019 ITTF Men’s World Cup, Tomokazu is now poised to potentially claim the title this year.
“With another match on the horizon, I certainly aspire to win. Now that I’ve made it to the semifinals, I hope to continue winning one match at a time,” Tomokazu Harimoto expressed.
Not to be overshadowed, Miwa Harimoto continued the family’s winning streak with a 4-1 victory over Adriana Diaz, securing herself a medal in her debut Women’s World Cup appearance. Miwa’s next challenge will be against World No.2 Wang Manyu in the semi-finals.
“I was defeated 2-3 the last time I played her. Heading into the match, I have fully reflected on our previous encounter, and discussed tactics and their execution with my coach. Despite losing one set to my opponent, I managed to quickly reset my mindset and I’m very happy to have won this,” Miwa Harimoto shared.
In a stunning upset, World No.8 Lin Gaoyuan dashed Fan Zhendong’s hopes for a fifth Men’s World Cup title, overpowering the World No.1 with a 4-2 victory. Lin now faces Tomokazu Harimoto in the semi-finals.
“I don’t feel any added pressure when facing Tomokazu Harimoto next. I’ll give it my all and showcase my tactical skills. I believe that’s the best approach for me at the moment. Constantly obsessing over winning isn’t helpful. I acknowledge that my abilities aren’t always consistently stable, so I’ll play at my own pace and aim to deliver an exciting match,” Lin Gaoyuan stated.
The semi-finals will also feature World No.1s Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin, who sailed through to the next round, setting up highly anticipated matches against past World Cup Champions Chen Meng and Ma Long.
“I’m happy that both Chen Meng and I made it to the Semi-Final. We know each other’s game well, which will make tomorrow’s match tougher. So, I’m just gonna head back tonight, get some rest, and hopefully come out tomorrow in my best form, ready to give it my all,” Sun Yingsha said.
With the stage set for the semi-finals, the table tennis world eagerly awaits the next chapter of this thrilling World Cup event.
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