WTT CONTENDER TAIYUAN 2025

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By the same token, Sun Yang is also allowed to get better, too.

The last time Kihara played a chopper was in 2023. If she has come out of her dad's incident, then it won't be an easy ride for Hashimoto. As I've repeated stressed, JNT players are now better than CNT players at playing defenders. It is jumping to conclusions for pongfugrasshopper to say "I don't see anyone beating Hashimoto in the bottom half".

YearEventPlayerAPlayerBPlayerXPlayerYSub-eventStageRoundResultGamesWinnerWinner
2023WTTContender,Lima(PER)BERGSTROMLinda(SWE)KIHARAMiyuu(JPN)WSMainDrawR160-38:117:116:11KIHARAMiyuu
Pongfugrasshopper watches more T-League than most (he noted Hirano's good form there which surprisingly didn't translate over to the tour). He may very well be wrong and the specific factor you noted might explain Kihara's play more than generalities about playing level. Let's remember that the CNT has choppers so when they are losing 0-3 to Hashimoto, it is not because of lack of exposure, it is because Hashimoto is significantly better than what they have produced so far in the CNT in recent times.
 
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ZYL turned beast mode when down 2-1 vs Yokoi, only letting her score 4 more points total as she ran away with the 3-2 win. I'm very happy to see her thriving after her illness and comeback.
 
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By the same token, Sun Yang is also allowed to get better, too.

The last time Kihara played a chopper was in 2023. If she has come out of her dad's incident, then it won't be an easy ride for Hashimoto. As I've repeated stressed, JNT players are now better than CNT players at playing defenders. It is jumping to conclusions for pongfugrasshopper to say "I don't see anyone beating Hashimoto in the bottom half".

YearEventPlayerAPlayerBPlayerXPlayerYSub-eventStageRoundResultGamesWinnerWinner
2023WTTContender,Lima(PER)BERGSTROMLinda(SWE)KIHARAMiyuu(JPN)WSMainDrawR160-38:117:116:11KIHARAMiyuu
I agree with you that JNT is better at playing defenders than CNT. Anything's possible of course, and Miyuu would do better than Liu Weishan or Zong Geman. I just think Honoka is in such good form now beating Hina Hayata. Miyuu is actually pretty good against defenders though not at the level of Ito or Odo. Miyuu played Honoka in T-League on November 9, 2024 with Miyuu losing 3-0. But right now as I type, she needs to beat Qin Yuxuan
 
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Kihara had a poor season last year because of his dad's incident. But seeing she lost 3-4 after being up 3-2 at the age of 15 at Czech Open 2019 and her 2 wins over Hashimoto in T.League 2021-2022, it won't be an easy ride if Kihara gets past Qin Yuxuan.
QF
Qin Yuxuan 3-2 Kihara (-10, 8, 6, -4, 8)
Given a wildcard on really short notice (JTTA added her name on 4/8) and had to bear the expense. Such a nice girl.

Nagasaki and Kihara are really unfortunate. LA28 could be the last Olympic cycle for many current JNT players.
 
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QF
LJH 2-3 XP (10, -10, 6, -8, -8)
2 3 lefties down, 2 1 to go... What a draw for someone with an eye-watering track record against lefties...
 
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Ok, I gotta admit I want Chen Yi to beat ZYL to pave the way for Honoka. But wouldn't it be epic to have Honoka Hashimoto beat ZYL in the finals who has been beating up everyone on the JNT: Yokoi, Odo, Hirano, Hayata.
It's unlikely that anyone can stop ZYL. Miracles do happen though...
 
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Hashimoto is playing some incredibly aggressive points lately. At 2-2 games and 8-3, she even goes for a step around FH after her BH punch got blocked back.

Really the only concerning thing about her lately is that her shoelaces are so long that the loops are touching the ground and it looks like she'll trip over them.
 
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Getting 12 points is considered a win for Qin Yuxuan.

LIVE! | T1 | Day 3 | WTT Feeder Olomouc 2024 | Session 2
https://youtu.be/fVbxN2y9fGY?t=4018
QF
Hashimoto 3-0 Qin Yuxuan (6, 5, 0)
 
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Pongfugrasshopper watches more T-League than most (he noted Hirano's good form there which surprisingly didn't translate over to the tour). He may very well be wrong and the specific factor you noted might explain Kihara's play more than generalities about playing level. Let's remember that the CNT has choppers so when they are losing 0-3 to Hashimoto, it is not because of lack of exposure, it is because Hashimoto is significantly better than what they have produced so far in the CNT in recent times.
Kihara lost to Hashimoto in 4 games in QF at Zennihon Takkyu 2020.
Kihara won in 5 games in R16 at Zennihon Takkyu 2023.
Still so confident?

Also, Kihara/Nagasaki 3-2 Sato/Hashimoto at Zennihon Takkyu 2024. And keep in mind Hashimoto got eliminated by Ushijima, a chopper, in WS R32 and Sato/Hashimoto exited in R16 at Zennihon Takkyu 2025.

https://www.japantabletennis.com/AJ/result2024/viewList.cgi?name=%CC%DA%B8%B6+%C8%FE%CD%AA
2020 年 (令和元年度)
女子シングルス
準々決勝 橋本 帆乃香 ミキハウス 大阪 4 (6,11,6,5) 0 木原 美悠 JOCエリートアカデミー

2023 年 (令和4年度)
女子シングルス
6回戦 木原 美悠 JOCエリートアカデミー/星槎 東京 4 (2,6,-3,7,4) 1 橋本 帆乃香 ミキハウス

2024 年 (令和5年度)
女子ダブルス
決勝 木原 美悠/長崎 美柚 木下グループ 神奈川 3 (9,-9,9,-4,8) 2 佐藤 瞳/橋本 帆乃香 ミキハウス 大阪

https://www.japantabletennis.com/AJ/result2024/viewList.cgi?name=%B6%B6%CB%DC+%C8%C1%C7%B5%B9%E1
2025 年 (令和6年度)
女子シングルス
5回戦 牛嶋 星羅 サンリツ 東京 4 (15,8,7,-9,10) 1 橋本 帆乃香 ミキハウス 大阪

女子ダブルス
5回戦 梅村 優香/塩見 真希 サンリツ 東京 3 (6,-6,-6,4,12) 2 佐藤 瞳/橋本 帆乃香 ミキハウス 大阪
 
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QYX on her way to break a new low judging by the way she plays.
15 points are a new PB, nonetheless. The conspiracy mode in me says Kihara lost on purpose so that Qin Yuxuan could rewrite her PB.

SF
Hashimoto 3-0 Qin Yuxuan (2, 9, 4)
 
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