The men's and women's finals were held in the individual competition of the T League, which staked points for the selection of the Japanese national team for table tennis at the Paris Olympics. Hina Hayata won the championship.
The T-League individual competition, held at the general gymnasium in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a tournament where points for the selection of representatives for the Paris Olympics in the year after next are given, and on the 14th, the final day of the men's and women's singles was held.
Of these men, Harimoto and Maharu Yoshimura played against each other.
In the first game, Harimoto started off with a 10 vs 10 deuce, attacking with his unique spinning receive "Chiquita", and winning 12 vs 10. I won the straight victory with a count of 4 to 0.
On the women's side, Hayata faced Tokyo Olympic medalist Miu Hirano.
In the third game, which counted 1 to 1, it was a long rally where both sides attacked each other on a tough course in succession.
After that, they won the 4th game with a score of 12 to 10 and won 3 games in a row, and in the 5th game, they aggressively attacked with their characteristic powerful forehands and seized the flow, winning the game count 4 to 1.
Harimoto and Hayata, who won 25 points by winning on the 14th, also won the selection meeting in March this year and took 50 points, and both advanced to the Paris tournament.
Harimoto: "I'll do my best to win the top spot and be selected as a member of the Japanese national team."
Tomokazu Harimoto, who won the men's singles in the T-League individual competition, said, "I think the reason I was able to win was that I didn't give up even after being caught up in the first game. I remember the feeling of attacking in any situation. I was able to play a match. My specialty, 'Chiquita', was good for all players, and the harvest and challenges were clear," he looked back.
Also, in preparation for the qualifying round for the Paris Olympics next month, he said, "I want to do my best so that I can win the top spot in both the world and Japan and be selected for the Japanese national team."
Hayata "The reason why we were able to win was that we were able to proceed with the game calmly"
Hina Hayata, who won the women's singles in the T-League individual competition, said, "The game was not easy, and there were many difficult parts, but I was able to perform attacks that I had practiced, such as shaking my backhand and 'Chiquita'. In particular, I think the reason we were able to win was that we were able to calmly advance the match from the second game.”
Regarding the 3rd and 4th games, which were deuces, he said, "I didn't feel like it was a deuce, and I thought it was just one game at a time. Thinking about it, I think I was able to make a good choice with confidence."
On top of that, she spoke about her enthusiasm for the Paris Olympics, saying, "After overcoming the difficult qualifying rounds, I think there will be the Paris Olympics. Anyway, I want to win one match at a time and seize the national team on my own."