Paris Olympic Games 2024

[AutomaticBackhand]

2020: JP Pair wins Gold Medal in Final against China.

2024: Losing to North Korea in first round.

 

[turbozed]

This is a nightmare for the Japanese team. Not just getitng knocked out at the starting gate for XD, but who knows how it'll effect Harimoto and Hayata's mentality in their matches moving forward.

 

[CallMeZaddy]

Wow Japan lost to DPK

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

let the games begin!

 

[backspacer]

To be fair the North Korean pair was very strong. If I was the Japanese pair I wouldn't know how to not get depressed after losing in the first round. I assume they have a mental coach who will have to do a miracle job.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Sad for Japan. NK should be required to play a minimum number of tournaments.

 

[zeio]

XD R16
Ri Jong Sik/Kim Kum Yong 4-1 Harimoto/Hayata (5, -7, 4, 13, 10)

Fact: North Korea chose to skip Tokyo 2020 because of COVID-19.

Prepare for upsets. They beat everyone standing in their way at the World XD Olympic Qualification (see below).

https://www.ittf.com/tournament/2931/2024WorldXDQual/
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE2931/results.html#/knock-outs
R16 4-1 Pistej/Balazova
QF 4-1 Gnanasekaran/Batra
SF 4-1 Ecseki/Madarasz
F 4-3 Robles/Xiao

Paris 2024
XD R16
Ri Jong Sik/Kim Kum Yong vs Harimoto/Hayata

Damn, Mizuntai/Ito were lucky.

 

[OvrChkn]

Prepare for upsets. They beat everyone standing in their way at the World XD Olympic Qualification (see below).

https://www.ittf.com/tournament/2931/2024WorldXDQual/
https://results.ittf.com/ittf-web-results/html/TTE2931/results.html#/knock-outs
R16 4-1 Pistej/Balazova
QF 4-1 Gnanasekaran/Batra
SF 4-1 Ecseki/Madarasz
F 4-3 Robles/Xiao

Add Hayata/Harimoto to that list!

Really hope it doesn't bother them mentally going into Singles.

 

[driversbeat]

Tomo had no idea how to handle those long pips in the last game.

 

[Atas Newton]

This North Korean team could do some damage, would not be surprised to see them reach the final, where who knows what could happen. Technically flawless, tricky style by the girl, totally unkown, got nothing to lose, that's quite a combo.

 

[nablaz]

Well well well... Japan out and PRK in isn't what we would have expected for XD! I hope more of the tourament is going to turn out this exiting!

 

[turbozed]

Sad for Japan. NK should be required to play a minimum number of tournaments.

I think it's fair to get into the competition through qualifiers.

The only unfair thing I can think of is that N. Korea has been historically strong and the seeding really should reflect that. But I guess it would be weird to change the rules for the odd exception.

 

[NextLevel]

Wonder how this North Korean team is so formidable despite eschewing international competition. This looks rough for HariHina at the moment.

They have trade relationships with China. That's sufficient for TT.

 

[turbozed]

This North Korean team could do some damage, would not be surprised to see them reach the final, where who knows what could happen. Technically flawless, tricky style by the girl, totally unkown, got nothing to lose, that's quite a combo.

Plus that dude was Sik, literally and figuratively.

That BH flick of his was devastating.

 

[andzejgolot]

Yeah you know Hayata changed blade from crazy one to controlled, personal one and if we consider them as unit. Harimoto was the one who is like wall and Hayata is finisher in this Duo? Right?
She was trying spin everything and the Kim Kum Jong was blocking everything with pips and add the important time for Ri massive hammer forehand. Harimoto always out of position with his spinny long forhand movement is disaster recipe.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

I think it's fair to get into the competition through qualifiers.

The only unfair thing I can think of is that N. Korea has been historically strong and the seeding really should reflect that. But I guess it would be weird to change the rules for the odd exception.

Playing more tournaments would give them a proper seeding because they are so strong.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Harimoto and Hayata just couldn't handle the pressure, and obviously should have practiced much more against pimples
They thought it would be an easy walkover. You could see Hayata smiling when they were down 1-2.

 

[d3nium]

Nice to finally see a big crowd and some atmosphere. Some of these WTT events are completely dead bar the Chinese fangirls.

 

[Atas Newton]

Cuba joining in the communist triumph?

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Interesting. Taiwan takes a timeout up 10-9 in the 1st of a bo7. They do end up winning the game.