Catching up with this article on Hirano from the end of last year that
I somehow missed.
She was going to take it easy at WTT SCT Doha 2025 and CT Muscat 2025 ahead of Zennihon Takkyu 2025, having taken zero days off after Paris 2024 before heading right into the T.League 2024-2025, driven solely by her love of table tennis.
平野美宇、卓球愛を再確認「休むとやりたい」「なんだかんだで好き」年末年始オフは３日間、８年ぶり日本一に照準
https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2024/12/29/0018495134.shtml
「卓球・Ｔリーグ女子、神奈川３－１九州」（２９日、代々木第二体育館）
神奈川の平野美宇（２４）＝木下グループ＝は第２試合で、今枝愛美（１９）を３－０で破って勝利に貢献した。これが今年最後の試合。１月の全日本選手権、２月の世界選手権団体戦、団体銀メダルを獲得した今夏のパリ五輪など、めまぐるしかった２０２４年を締めくくり、「今年最後の試合で勝つことができてよかった。いい締めくくりができた」と納得の表情。来年に向けては、「五輪が終わった次の年はいろんなことに挑戦できる。結果はもちろんだが、自分の実力を上げたり、もっと（ライバルと）差をつけられるように頑張りたい」と語った。
Ｔリーグでは個人で今季無敗の１２連勝とした。パリ五輪直後の８月の開幕時は気持ち的に苦しかったといい、「全然休みがなかったので。（観客や関係者に）失礼だが、（当時は）すごく嫌だなと思いながら試合をした」と述懐。ただ、休みを挟んだことで卓球愛を再確認したといい、「卓球を１回休むと、またやりたいなって思うので、なんだかんだで卓球が結構好きだなと。今までは五輪という夢があるから、やらなきゃいけないと思い込んでいたが、そういう状況じゃなくても意外と（卓球を）やりたいなと気づいて、結構面白い」と明かした。
年末年始のオフは３０日～１月１日の３日間。１月２日から練習初めで４日にはＴリーグ、５日からは国際大会出場のためにカタールに出発する慌ただしいスケジュールとなるといい、「休みながら（試合へ）準備しないといけない」と苦笑いした。
また、８年ぶりの頂点を狙う全日本選手権（１月２１日開幕、東京体育館）に向けても「コンディションが一番大事。どの選手も強いので、しっかり準備する」と強調。今回は代表争いは懸かっていないものの、「（気持ち的に）楽だが、（代表が）懸かっているからこそ頑張れるところもあるので、メリットもデメリットもある。今回はシンプルに勝ちたいって気持ちを持って臨めるかな」と心境を明かした。
"Table Tennis - T-League Women's, Kanagawa 3-1 Kyushu" (29th, Yoyogi Second Gymnasium)
Kanagawa's Hirano Miu (24) from Kinoshita Group contributed to the victory by defeating Imaeda Manami (19) 3-0 in the second match. This is the last match of the year. She concluded a hectic 2024, including the All-Japan Championships in January, the World Team Championships in February, and the Paris Olympics this summer, where she won a team silver medal, saying with a satisfied expression,
"I'm glad I was able to win the last match of the year. I was able to end it on a good note." Looking ahead to next year, she said,
"In the year following the end of the Olympics, I can try out various things. Needless to say, I want to do my best to get results, but I also want to improve my strengths and work hard to put myself further apart (from my rivals)."
In the T-League, she has won 12 consecutive matches without a loss this season. She said that she was mentally struggling when the tournament started in August right after the Paris Olympics, and recalled,
"I had no time off at all. It's rude (to the spectators and people involved), but (at the time) I played the matches while really hating it." However, she said that the break helped her to reaffirm her love for table tennis.
"Whenever I take a break from table tennis, I want to play again, so all things considered, I guess I really like table tennis. Until now, I thought I had to play because I had the Olympic dream, but I've realized that I actually want to play even when I'm not in that situation, and it's pretty fun."
She will have a 3-day break from the New Year holidays, from the 30th to January 1st. She will have a hectic schedule, starting her training on the 2nd, playing in the T-League on the 4th, and departing for Qatar on the 5th to compete in an international tournament. She said with a wry smile,
"I have to prepare (for the matches) while taking a break."
Aiming to reach the top for the first time in 8 years at the Zennihon Senshuken (opening on January 21st at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium), she also emphasized that
"condition is the most important thing. All the players are strong, so I'll prepare well." Although the competition for the national team is not at stake this time, she revealed her feelings, saying,
"It's (mentally) easier, but if (the national team) depended on it, I can work harder in some areas, so there are both advantages and disadvantages. I wonder if I can approach it this time with a simple desire to win."
And the comments at Yahoo Japan News.
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/94f0d811ec6228618b4085da02479c110f6743de
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/94f0d811ec6228618b4085da02479c110f6743de/comments
rob********
2024/12/29(日) 16:26
今年はオリンピック・イヤーだったので、世界選手権・パリ五輪・アジア選手権とフル出場して活躍し、日本に貢献した平野美宇と張本美和の二人は、選手たちの中でも特に休めていない状況がある。
そんな中にあっても、この二人はメンタル的にもフィジカル的にも、本当に良くやっていると言って良い。
平野選手はちょっとしたファン交流のイベントなどを挟んで気分転換を図りつつ、左ひざに抱えた痛みもサポーターをしながらさほど大事無く乗り切った。
張本選手は言うまでもなく学業との両立を見事にこなしつつ、着実に右肩上がりの成長を続けている。
この二人こそ、どこかでもう少し休ませてやりたい今年の日本卓球女子の功労者である。
(This year was an Olympic year, so Hirano Miu and Harimoto Miwa, who contributed to Japan by playing without a break at the WTTC, the Paris Olympics, and the ATTC, were in a situation where they had not been able to rest among the players.
Even in such a situation, it is safe to say that these two were doing really well, both mentally and physically.
Hirano took part in a few fan events to change her mood, and she overcame the pain in her left knee without too much trouble with the help of a brace.
Needless to say, Harimoto is doing a great job of balancing her studies and continuing to make steady, upward progress.
These two are the contributors to Japan's women's table tennis this year, and I would like them to get a little more rest somewhere.)
123 concur, 15 ic, 4 hmm
quc********
2024/12/29(日) 16:47
全日本チャンピオンを期待してます。
やはり、時代を築いた名選手というのは、複数回日本一にならないとね。同世代の伊藤も早田も3回優勝してるいる。負けないで！
(I'm looking forward to you becoming the Zennihon Champion.
After all, a great athlete who has defined an era has to be number one in Japan multiple times. Ito and Hayata, who are from the same generation, have also won 3 times. Don't lose!)
53 concur, 3 ic, 5 hmm
qda********
2024/12/29(日) 16:05
無敗とは素晴らしい。ヤラカシ癖が治った。全日本獲って欲しい。
(Being undefeated is great. She's gotten over her habit of making silly mistakes. I want her to win the Zennihon.)
66 concur, 1 ic, 8 hmm
