ITTF-ATTU Asian Teams Championships 2025, Bhubaneswar, 10/11-15

[rpb23]

IMHO, its clear when you look at the scores that the last two games were more about something Liang figured out than about what Sora did wrong. Room for growth if fixable. As one of my favorite tennis coaches once said, people like to turn technical problems into mental problems. But when your technique becomes more reliable, the mental issues sometimes magically vanish.

I remember Fang Bo, one of LJK's former teammates commented before that LJK's main strength is not power but his spin. He also commented that the main reason LJK won the majority of deciding games is he would then focus more on spin as a way to reduce errors. Turned out LJK is not just known as 'come back king' in the international circle but inside China as well.
The first match against Tomo, LJK lost to a very tough Tomo in the decider but he gave Tomo all he could handle. Maybe that tough battle took some toll on Tomo that he couldn't repeat his performance against WCQ. In the decider against a young Sora, LJK's spin game showed a clear advantage.

Overall, Chinese coach did a great job designing the lineup. They expected their best pllayer WCQ won two matches, LJK can score at least one point, LSD had 75% chance winning his match. Even though WCQ fell short, the lineup, however, provided enough insurance to secure the winning margin.

 

[rpb23]

It wasn't too much for Sora, but I agree with you that it is perfectly okay when someone so young can't seize the opportunity.

The problem with time is that the talented Chinese juniors are still getting better - Ruibo Wen, Li Hechen etc. might not be so accomodating in a few years. The Japanese window is dependent on the fortunes of WCQ, LJK and LSD but I think it is open till 2028.

China may have some promising young stars on the horizon, but for the next 2, 3 years, the core will likely the same players we saw today, i,e WCQ, LSD and LJK. The Chinese system tends limiting young stars exposure to the big events hindering their growth. Japanese system is little more open judging talent based on the results not coaches preference. The next 2, 3 years is exactly the window for Japanses to knock out Chinese while Tomo is still in his prime and Sora or maybe Togami maturing.

My personal view is Sora may be the most talented player for Japanese, technique wise, if he can develop some mental strength and resilency. Maybe Sora can learn something from the one who just broke him, LJK.

 

[NextLevel]

China may have some promising young stars on the horizon, but for the next 2, 3 years, the core will likely the same players we saw today, i,e WCQ, LSD and LJK. The Chinese system tends limiting young stars exposure to the big events hindering their growth. Japanese system is little more open judging talent based on the results not coaches preference. The next 2, 3 years is exactly the window for Japanses to knock out Chinese while Tomo is still in his prime and Sora or maybe Togami maturing.

My personal view is Sora may be the most talented player for Japanese, technique wise, if he can develop some mental strength and resilency. Maybe Sora can learn something from the one who just broke him, LJK.

With both Sora and WCQ, I would like to see how they perform under a rigorous serve rule enforcement regime before giving them 100% keys to the kingdom. If really good TTR tech is developed, they may both be in significant trouble.

 

[NextLevel]

I remember Fang Bo, one of LJK's former teammates commented before that LJK's main strength is not power but his spin. He also commented that the main reason LJK won the majority of deciding games is he would then focus more on spin as a way to reduce errors. Turned out LJK is not just known as 'come back king' in the international circle but inside China as well.
The first match against Tomo, LJK lost to a very tough Tomo in the decider but he gave Tomo all he could handle. Maybe that tough battle took some toll on Tomo that he couldn't repeat his performance against WCQ. In the decider against a young Sora, LJK's spin game showed a clear advantage.

Overall, Chinese coach did a great job designing the lineup. They expected their best pllayer WCQ won two matches, LJK can score at least one point, LSD had 75% chance winning his match. Even though WCQ fell short, the lineup, however, provided enough insurance to secure the winning margin.

Yes I remember that video from Fang Bo On the flip side he had Lin Gaoyuan as someone with relatively low spin quality whose timing fell apart under pressure of close matches. It is what i also mean when I say mental issues are often technical issues or limtations just viewed through the story telling lens by lay viewers.

 

[blahness]

Harimoto finally started using the reverse pendulum serve!

 

[zeio]

It's for the priceless expressions of both teams at the end that I play table tennis!

Indian commentator: "The Great Wall of China thwarts the Land of Rising Sun once more..."

The Youtube live stream is over 12 hours long (13:47:34) and the extra time doesn't get archived so the last 2 matches got cut off...

From 10:6 to 10:11 in G2. What was Kishikawa thinking? Indeed a big question mark next to his leadership.

Liang Jingkun vs Sora Matsushima | SF-MT | 2025 Asian Team Championships
https://youtu.be/d_3JmSCLCqU?t=717

FULL MATCH | Liang Jingkun vs Sora Matsushima | SEMI-FINAL | 2025 Asian Championships
https://youtu.be/gK1spxgJaZA?t=915

 

[NextLevel]

From 10:6 to 10:11 in G2. What was Kishikawa thinking? Indeed a big question mark next to his leadership.

Liang Jingkun vs Sora Matsushima | SF-MT | 2025 Asian Team Championships
https://youtu.be/d_3JmSCLCqU?t=717

FULL MATCH | Liang Jingkun vs Sora Matsushima | SEMI-FINAL | 2025 Asian Championships
https://youtu.be/gK1spxgJaZA?t=915

Sora rejected the timeout which he technically isnt allowed to but up to that point in the match, it was hard to wrap one's head around the danger of Liang Jingkun'a form. But as we all know, hindsight is 20-20. Hopefully this will be front of mind for team coaches when they decide to let the player override them. Making this about coaching and not about the player performance is all good with hindsight, but without knowing more about the team dynamics, it is unfair to coach, team and player.

 

[zeio]

Sora rejected the timeout which he technically isnt allowed to but up to that point in the match, it was hard to wrap one's head around the danger of Liang Jingkun'a form. But as we all know, hindsight is 20-20. Hopefully this will be front of mind for team coaches when they decide to let the player override them. Making this about coaching and not about the player performance is all good with hindsight, but without knowing more about the team dynamics, it is unfair to coach, team and player.

Did he? Togami (first to turn) and Harimoto (following closely) were actually looking towards Kishikawa at 10:9 and it was as if Kishikawa was in a world of his own?

If I'm the management, I would review the chain of command. Something like that shouldn't have happened in a team event.

 

[JackJohnson]

Sora rejected the timeout which he technically isnt allowed to but up to that point in the match, it was hard to wrap one's head around the danger of Liang Jingkun'a form. But as we all know, hindsight is 20-20. Hopefully this will be front of mind for team coaches when they decide to let the player override them. Making this about coaching and not about the player performance is all good with hindsight, but without knowing more about the team dynamics, it is unfair to coach, team and player.

I don’t think it’s the coach fault for Japan losing the match. They picked the right players to play the game and I would select this team again. Backing Sora and Hiroto as 2nd and 3rd player I have no problem. If it had been Togami and Sora or Togami and Hiroto Japan would have lost the match at a greater margin.

I hope players from Japan start having more faith in their abilities and remember this the next time when they play their matches whether singles, doubles, teams etc.

They need this type of performance next time at the World Table Tennis Teams Championships 2026 as they will most likely will have to face China again. I hope the next time they closed the whole match and not end up with the same result.

Sora recently beat some top players like Franziska and LJK. Time is on his side.

 

[Bran]

mental issues are often technical issues or limtations just viewed through the story telling lens by lay viewers.

Technique plays a role for sure. I remember hearing similar comments either by or about Schlager, that strokes that are naturally tenser or less smooth have the upside of not suffering as much under pressure.

LGY's natural game is extremely demanding in terms of timing, and so it's easier to jam in key moments. Of course, this combines with the player's own way and ability to handle pressure.

 

[zeio]

Japan has pretty good luck, winning the toss for both MT and WT. But it was still not enough for MT, what about WT?

WT F
JPN 0-3 CHN
Hashimoto 1-3 WMY (10, -3, -6, -3)
Harimoto 0-3 SYS (-9, -5, -7)
G1 6:6
Indian commentator: "When in doubt, Sun Yingsha relies on her power BH there..."
G3 7:11
Indian commentator: "Sun is shining there, definitely on the table as pleasantly Chinese corner..."
Hayata 1-3 KM (8, -10, -6, -9)
G2 95, 109, 1012
G4 74, 77, 97, 98 Hayata served off the table, 911
Hashimoto vs SYS ()
Harimoto vs WMY ()

 

[JackJohnson]

Japan has pretty good luck, winning the toss for both MT and WT. But it was still not enough for MT, what about WT?

WT F
JPN vs CHN
Hashimoto vs WMY ()
Harimoto vs SYS ()
Hayata vs KM ()
Hashimoto vs SYS ()
Harimoto vs WMY ()

Damn, did the Japan coach put Hashimoto as first seeding?

 

[fore.n.back]

Did he? Togami (first to turn) and Harimoto (following closely) were actually looking towards Kishikawa at 10:9 and it was as if Kishikawa was in a world of his own?

If I'm the management, I would review the chain of command. Something like that shouldn't have happened in a team event.

One big question mark for Kishikawa yesterday was the lack of coaching during TO and breaks. You see Wang Hao talking relentlessly, arms moving around to his player, but here Kishikawa just stand and give water bottles while players adjust themselves. Idk if JNT has planned out each and every game plan beforehand, but on field coaching is crucial, especially when your team has a member with a weak mentality like Sora

 

[zeio]

Damn, did the Japan coach put Hashimoto as first seeding?

I take that Nakazawa doesn't believe in Odo, provided that she didn't have the runs...

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...s-2025-bhubaneswar-10-11-15.37489/post-545143

 

[tzifos]

NICE 1st game for Hashimoto

<3 <3 <3

 

[driversbeat]

Damn, did the Japan coach put Hashimoto as first seeding?

Good choice, Hashimoto has a better chance against WMY and Miwa has a better chance against SYS. WMY seems to have figured out Miwa lately.

 

[zeio]

Damn, role-model Hashimoto was made as ugly as possible by bully WMY...

 

[NextLevel]

Damn, role-model Hashimoto was made as ugly as possible by bully WMY...

At least no one will accuse Nakazawa of not being creative...

 

[dingyibvs]

Interesting that KM is playing instead of WYD or even CXT.

 

[NextLevel]

Nakazawa called the timeout but Hina still lost the game. Again the players have to perform.