1) Harimoto was the most hyped young player in recent memory, called by the media as the "100 year talent" and a kind of "chosen one".
media called, so when did he say he is going to win olympic gold - please quote HT saying that, or media quote??
To his credit, in 2018, he beat ZJK, Ma Long, LGY, all while being age 14. He looked like the best prospect we have ever seen (If he was taking down GOAT's at age 14, how good could he be at age 20?). I often compare him to Lebron James or Zion Williamson, being the most impressive young prospect the sport has ever seen.
I guess you have never said these top players loosing to new comers and then CNT backend team assisting coaching team to prep the stars to never loose against such player?
Harimoto is not the first and not the last.
As forum people says "the player gets figured out".
2) On good days, he occasionally can still beat the top CNT players. On bad days, he can still lose to random players from Iran or players outside the top 20. Because of his inconsistent play,
who isn't?
he even fell out of the top 10 in 2023. If he had a better winning %, he would still be in the top 3 or top 5, just the mathematical definition of the ranking system.
I guess you are blinded by what happened to him in 2023
You have ignore people telling you why 2023 was bad for him, and you only choose your hockey stick view point on what you see as your facts
Additionally, we are not talking about boxing. In boxing, you just have to win 1 match, or potentially 1 round, to be world champion. This is table tennis. By definition, to be champion, you must win 5 matches in a row over every opponent presented to you. Beating world #1 and losing to world #30 does not give you any special title of "almost champion". I understand he has some very good wins, but he still has to win 5 in a row to be champion, which is the goal in this sport.
who is calling HT a champion? you are calling him doomed at age 18 already
3) Compared to the 14 year old version of himself, the current version has not meaningfully improved.
Really?? I guess you also haven't improved from the 14 year old you.
HT has grown a lot taller, his whole technical and approach had to change
I guess you don't understand what this means, since you need to have a multiple view point on one matter for you to see the whole picture. This tells me you are too narrow minded.
I judge this by his recent results against both CNT players and also his inconsistent play against international players, and lack of international tournament wins. In my opinion, he has not lived up to his hype, his talent, his potential, or his trajectory.
Some of the best wins in the resent 18 month period - no one else on planet earth done it.
Every other player is a failure too right?
This is my opinion. It may be shared by many, and disagreed by many.
So far, I think you are the 1 dooming in on the whole of TTD
4) I believe his trajectory in the past 5 years has been largely flat or even slightly downwards. He has not improved much, while other players (like Lebrun) have caught up to him. This is not the same as being doomed. In 2024 or 2025, he may suddenly improve his performance, and he can still win the big titles or be world #1. My statements of 1-3 pertain only up to the time of this statement.
yet you lack to acknowledge some of his best during the past 2 years and only remember the worse.
typical hate mentality (where fans will only remember the best and forget the worse). I don't like him, but I'm neutral. he played some of the best table tennis against the WR1 and WR2 the world had saw the past 2 years. Do you have the ability to experience quality table tennis, or are you narrow minded by who is playing?
Not improved much?
I'm glad you are not a coach or in a space to help others improve.
5) Some members of this forum have defended his performance as being "good enough". They are free to this opinion, and there is no damaged caused by such a fan position. However, I just highlight the discrepancy of Harimoto's own statements of wanting to win the big titles such as Olympics and Worlds.
Zeio challenged you, are you ignoring his challenge by quoting the source???
As I said, I'm not a HT fan, I don't like many parts of his story and his game, but he is one of those good enough as evidence by himself showing the world, while TB filter has filtered out.
so, provide evidence to your quote - especially since you lived in Japan lol
Harimoto's goal is obviously more than being "best Japanese", so to that extent, he is underperforming his own goals. Obviously he has changed coaches several times in the past years, so everybody on his team seems to think that "good enough" is not enough.
So you know what everybody on his teams seems to think?????????
wow
They would appear to be looking for a new breakthrough or trajectory. Again, as a fan, you are free to appreciate the quality of his performances as they are currently. As a fan, you are also free to wish for more or criticize him, because this is the internet, and that's what happens on the internet.
did you just call me a fan of HT?
you really fail to read to understand. Im sure many people on TTD knows I am not a fan
Or are you calling yourself a fan?
well, you have shown that you are 1 sided or narrow minded, so yes, that is your right to view it like that and criticize him. But how come it is so difficult for you to talk the good about Chengdu2022??? hehehe
Bonus statement: This is just my personal opinion from a 1900 player, but I observe that his style tends to stand in the middle of the table and rally from both wings. His points often demand him to be consistent and sharp and in rhythm. I notice that the top players in the sport tend to play more efficiently and win more short points with a powerful FH kill or 3rd ball kill or by controlling the short ball.
you are 1900?
damn, going to take that as a bonus indeed.
So, you few top players in the world by finishing a lot of points with a 3rd ball kill???
so anyone who doesn't have powerful FH kill is not a top player???
You need to read what you said and in the same time, how many people you are dooming or writing off all together.
HT is the best of the rest and the one that has successfully challenge the CNT in resent years.
Who else has done better than him??