Thread about Japanese Players

[Catenaccio]

Congrats to Hitomi Sato for reaching a career best number 8 position and becoming the 3rd highest ranked Japanese player 🔥

 

[Catenaccio]

[Table Tennis] Coach Nakazawa intends to continue with the "Miwa-Hina" pair; "0-11" defeat was "extremely damaging"; further strengthening planned for the Los Angeles Olympics... Asian Games​

It's unlikely, but I hope that Nakazawa will give Hashimoto and Sato a chance during one of the next Smash tournaments.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

It's unlikely, but I hope that Nakazawa will give Hashimoto and Sato a chance during one of the next Smash tournaments.

Oddly enough, Sato/Hashimoto's incredible match which they won against SYS/WYD seemed to mark the end (or near end) of the doubles pairing. From what I can remember, the only time they played doubles after that was at the following 2025 All Japan Doubles where they lost to Yuka Umemura/Maki Shiomi. Even when the two have been at the same tournament, they chose to pair with others... Honoka with Adrian Diaz and Hitomi with Saki Shibata (same T-League team). They both have had very successful treks in singles and are both targeting the Olympics. So despite the public clamoring to see the two pair up again, perhaps it's a mutual decision... at least up until now. Things can change and maybe we see them pair up at the World Championships next year if they both secure spots.

 

[Catenaccio]

Even when the two have been at the same tournament, they chose to pair with others... Honoka with Adrian Diaz and Hitomi with Saki Shibata (same T-League team).

I think the Sato/Shibata pairing might be due to contractual obligations. In addition, NER is too restrictive in doubles imo. However, it does not explain why Hashimoto/Sato didn't play together at the Star Contender in Astana. Due to lack of participants, NER didn't seem to be an issue at that tournament. For example, there were 4 China/China pairs in WD.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Congratulations to Mao Takamori, 2026 China Youth Smash U19 champion

 

[Catenaccio]

Hashimoto was unfortunate with the refereeing in her QF against CXT. First, there was the controversial side call in G4 when she was leading 10:9. In addition, the expedite rule should have come into effect in G4 at 6:8.

Time stamp at the start of G4 is 1:55:17

Timestamp at 9:9 is 2:07:55 => a lot more than 10 minutes had elapsed before they played 18 points in G4.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Hashimoto was unfortunate with the refereeing in her QF against CXT. First, there was the controversial side call in G4 when she was leading 10:9. In addition, the expedite rule should have come into effect in G4 at 6:8.

Time stamp at the start of G4 is 1:55:17

View attachment 43782

Timestamp at 9:9 is 2:07:55 => a lot more than 10 minutes had elapsed before they played 18 points in G4.

View attachment 43783

She was robbed

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Japan National Team members updated. Hitomi is in. Mima is out.

Men keep the same players, but the ordering has changed... Sora now #1. Shinozuka now #4.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Japan National Team members updated. Hitomi is in. Mima is out.

View attachment 43811

Men keep the same players, but the ordering has changed... Sora now #1. Shinozuka now #4.

View attachment 43812

Why 7 women and only 5 men

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Since the All Japan and WTT Champions Asia are taking place at the same time, the JTTA is expecting top players will choose WTT Champions due to it directly affecting Olympic selection. Because of that, the JTTA has made a small change in the selection for the 2027 World TT Championships selection. Instead of the winner of the All Japan automatically getting selected, after Asian Champs secured spots remaining selections will be by world rankings (14 days prior to entry deadline for 2027 WTTC).

 

[zeio]

Why 7 women and only 5 men

JTTA: All because of our rigid selection system...