In principle, JNT still has time to change the selection rules .....
( I just can’t understand why it was necessary to play a couple of Hirano-Shibata this year? Meaning?)
Respectfully I disagree. You cannot move the goal post and change the rules once the competition began. Not after it was announced to the world and the race is on. This is what playing fair is all about.
Following your reasoning, the Hirano-Shibata may be a foil to keep Hayata away, just as the dismantling of the Ito-Hayata combo after April. With Hayata in the picture, it would gum up JTTA’s preconceived plans. Now there is no current viable data to support a Hayata combo is the right choice. But there are sufficient results to show a Ishikawa-Hirano combo is at best mediocre.
Anyway, it’s a conspiracy theory I don’t quite subscribe.
Either way, the Ishikawa-Hirano race was open, transparent, with both losing precious opportunities in what appeared to be a continued series of comedies of error. Myself, I think the turning point was Ishikawa gaining entry to the first T2 and thereby 400 more points, and Hirano inexplicably losing both in WWC to Zhang and Jeon in T2.
But both Ishikawa & Hirano are near their breaking points because of the large number of games played, without satisfactory results and mental pressure. That much is evident to me.
In the end, it came down to Markham, and half a year of stumbles against what the world has to offer ended with a head to head fight for the spot. Hirano actually played very well, but Ishikawa was fighting for her life, a chance for her last Olympic, on home soil yet. The experience won out.
I see Tokyo is an opportunity to gain a WS medal in Ito. I can’t see Japan getting even a Silver in Team, not with Ishikawa and Hirano in it.
As for Hayata, I hope she keeps building herself up for 2024. She’s not ready for the harsh realities of Tokyo yet, and it’s better for her development not to take a fall/hit, and be tarnished for Japan’s Team failings.
Now the race for the ‘P’ card begins.