Mizutani vs Sora Matsushima

[Dr Evil]

14 years old. Maybe not quite Harimoto level at the same age, but not too far off.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

need to see Harimoto 's match at the same age.
IIRC, Sora's FH is more powerful than Harimoto at the same age, but his BH seems much less deadly. Its good and steady but it feels to me Harimoto is/was taking the ball even earlier, and was more at ease changing directions more often (= playing along the line winners)

 

[Dr Evil]

For comparison, here's Harimoto age 14 in the Czech Open:

 

[zeio]

Matsushima
14yrs 1mths

Harimoto
13yrs 11mths
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptr3pRxwErA

14yrs 6mths
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u75tc_Y-1gY

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

wow how could I forget this ... Harimoto is really so amazing !
hats off also to Mizutani to have hung up till now

 

[zeio]

Height will become his "limiter" if Matsushima doesn't grow past 1.7m in the next few years, standing at 1.55m back in January.

OTOH, Matsushima will likely not be another Harimoto but probably another Niwa. He's grown quite a bit during the last year but is still too short for a 13-year-old.

https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/tabletennis/news/2021/01/016058.html

13歳 松島輝空 8強入り！ジュニア男子最年少Vへ前進【全日本卓球】
松島輝空 2021.01.13
...
Q．去年より動けている？

去年は身長も低かったり体もみんなより全然小さかったんですけど、中学生になって身長も大きくなってきたので違ってきている。

13-year-old Sora Matsushima Advances to Top 8! To the Youngest Junior Boy Victory [All-Japan Table Tennis]
Sora Matsushima 2021.01.13
...
Q. Are you more agile than last year?

Last year I was short and my body was much smaller than everyone else, but it's different now because I'm getting taller once in junior high school.