WTT Star Contender Doha 2025 - 6-11 Jan 2025

[zeio]

Uda is 6 years older than Sora. Shinozuka is 4 years older. Let's stop retiring them in diapers please.

JTTA's selection system doesn't care about that. Matsudaira Kenji will turn 36 this April and he's going to WTTC 2025.

Ishikawa was 27+1 and Hirano 20+1 for Tokyo 2020+1, which was the easier edition compared to Paris 2024.

 

[fore.n.back]

2 MS titles under his belt is still different from 0 MS titles for the self-proclaimed ace in your avatar.

Damn what a burn lmao, can't defend my idol on this one

 

[mikeytt]

Xu Yingbin didn't like the japanese fangirls cheering for Harimoto/Matushima lol, shushing them as soon as the chinese pair won

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Damn what a burn lmao, can't defend my idol on this one

When did Togami self-proclaim himself as the ace of the team?

 

[NextLevel]

JTTA's selection system doesn't care about that. Matsudaira Kenji will turn 36 this April and he's going to WTTC 2025.

Ishikawa was 27+1 and Hirano 20+1 for Tokyo 2020+1, which was the easier edition compared to Paris 2024.

I am talking about Sora Matsushima's development. You are obviously talking about something else.

 

[zeio]

Yes, togami has a way to go internationally. Seems to be on an upwards trend lately with good wins in the Bundesliga but we will see if he can maintain this in wtt later in the year 🤷‍♂️

Same here. He showed a lot of potential and he did translate it into domestic and continental results in MS, and international results in MD. Looking back, his initial trajectory bears a resemblance to that of Hayata.

 

[zeio]

Who is the next wave? Kawakami, Iwaida, Watanabe?

Pretty much it. And they are all younger.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Pretty much it. And they are all younger.

I was not wowed by any of their performances at WYC 2024 or in other matches that I've seen of them here or there but time will tell.

 

[zeio]

When did Togami self-proclaim himself as the ace of the team?

He said that in an interview after defending his national title. 全日本卓球選手権/Zennihon Takkyu Senshuken/All-Japan TTC = 日本一/Japan's no 1, the terms are synonymous and that's how it's reported in the news. That's why their players treat it very seriously (way too seriously as Miyazaki has said it impeded their international results in the early 2000). Togami has been rather vocal about not being treated on equal terms with Harimoto, who is his junior (hierarchy).

He actually reflected on that claim in the Butterfly interview after failing to defend his title against Harimoto at Zennihon Takkyu 2024.

2024年全日本卓球 男子シングルス2位　戸上隼輔
「重圧に押しつぶされそうな2年間だった」
https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/tournament/detail/023801.html

--「決勝で何度も戦いたい」「これからも競い合っていきたい」と張本選手が言っていました。
戸上　張本選手とは日本代表の1番手、2番手として、日本を背負ってこれから戦っていきたいという思いは僕もあります。張本選手に認めてもらって、半年後のパリ五輪に向けて切磋琢磨していけたらいいなと思っています。

--選考レースの2年間はどうでしたか？
戸上　一言で言うなら......、重圧に押しつぶされそうな2年間でした。やっぱりたくさんの方が期待してくれているからこそ、結果を求められる機会が増えたり、大きな大会を経験させてもらう機会も増えて結果が出ないときもありました。そういう時は辛いなって思いましたけど、自分が日本を背負って、日本を引っ張ると宣言したからには、その言葉の責任もあると思っていたので、この2年間は本当に苦しかったです。でも、成長も実感できたり、世界ランキングや、トップ選手に勝つ機会も増えてきたので、重圧というのは、これからの半年の方がつらいというのは、自分の中では覚悟しています。
　まずは、この2年間を戦い抜いた自分をほめたいです。今後の方はキツいと思うので、世界卓球前に、もう一度気持ちを引き締めて頑張りたいです。

--Harimoto said, "I want to fight again and again in the finals," and "I want to continue competing with you."
Togami: I also want to fight with Harimoto as the first and second Japanese representatives, carrying the hopes of Japan. I hope that Harimoto will recognize me and we can work hard together towards the Paris Olympics in six months.

--How was the two years of the selection race?
Togami: In a word...two years that I felt crushed by the pressure. After all, because so many people have high expectations of me, there are more opportunities to expect results and more opportunities to experience big tournaments, but there were times when I didn't get results. At times like that, I felt tough, but since I declared that I would carry the hopes of Japan and lead the country, I felt a responsibility to those words, so these two years have been really tough. However, I have been able to feel my growth, and I have more opportunities to beat world rankings and top players, so I am prepared for the pressure to be harder in the next six months.
First of all, I want to praise myself for fighting through these past two years. I think it will be tough from now on, so I want to pull myself together and do my best again before the WTTC.

 

[zeio]

I was not wowed by any of their performances at WYC 2024 or in other matches that I've seen of them here or there but time will tell.

Yeah, WYC 2024 was pretty bad except for Kawakami who lost 3-4 against Tang Yiren in U15 BS QF and won both his matches against TPE in U15 BT QF. The desirable thing about him is that he is a righty.

 

[zeio]

I am talking about Sora Matsushima's development. You are obviously talking about something else.

And winning a selection trial for once is not development? He has to compete against his teammates regardless of age. Harimoto, Uda and Togami all went through that.

Continuing from my previous post about Ishikawa and Hirano, Hayata lost to Ito in the final selection trial for WTTC 2018, lost to Kato in the final selection trial for WTTC 2019 and lost to Hirano in the final selection trial for WTTC 2020. All within 1 year of age difference. Losing in the first two practically cost Hayata the Tokyo 2020, not to mention Hirano giving up 250 pts at WTTC 2018 to Hayata cost her the WS. Hayata didn't win her first selection trials until ATTC 2021 and WTTC 2021, beating her teammates, old and young. Those are true development. Now, the prospect for LA 2028 for the 3 of the golden generation is pretty dim. Therefore, the argument about age is no excuse for not playing up to expectations, especially when Matsushima is using the resources/influence of the Harimoto siblings. Once again, there is no guarantee that Matsushima will definitely improve far beyond his current self at 21 and 25 when he displays world-weariness at 17.

伊藤美誠vs早田ひな｜世界卓球2018 日本代表最終選考会 女子決勝
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owKoPIUTYAg
世界卓球2019日本代表最終選考会 女子 準決勝 加藤美優vs早田ひな｜English sub
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PgEuJmaE28
女子シングルス決勝 平野美宇vs早田ひな｜世界卓球2020 日本代表最終選考会
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy_VXO2yMOU

 

[backspacer]

View attachment 34110
Xu Yingbin didn't like the japanese fangirls cheering for Harimoto/Matushima lol, shushing them as soon as the chinese pair won

Is this penalty worthy from the CTTA?

 

[NextLevel]

And winning a selection trial for once is not development? He has to compete against his teammates regardless of age. Harimoto, Uda and Togami all went through that.

Continuing from my previous post about Ishikawa and Hirano, Hayata lost to Ito in the final selection trial for WTTC 2018, lost to Kato in the final selection trial for WTTC 2019 and lost to Hirano in the final selection trial for WTTC 2020. All within 1 year of age difference. Losing in the first two practically cost Hayata the Tokyo 2020, not to mention Hirano giving up 250 pts at WTTC 2018 to Hayata cost her the WS. Hayata didn't win her first selection trials until ATTC 2021 and WTTC 2021, beating her teammates, old and young. Those are true development. Now, the prospect for LA 2028 for the 3 of the golden generation is pretty dim. Therefore, the argument about age is no excuse for not playing up to expectations, especially when Matsushima is using the resources/influence of the Harimoto siblings. Once again, there is no guarantee that Matsushima will definitely improve far beyond his current self at 21 and 25 when he displays world-weariness at 17.

伊藤美誠vs早田ひな｜世界卓球2018 日本代表最終選考会 女子決勝
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owKoPIUTYAg
世界卓球2019日本代表最終選考会 女子 準決勝 加藤美優vs早田ひな｜English sub
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PgEuJmaE28
女子シングルス決勝 平野美宇vs早田ひな｜世界卓球2020 日本代表最終選考会
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy_VXO2yMOU

Let's stop being silly here. You don't call youth a failure until it is way too late. That's my point. By this standard, Hayata was already a failure in 2020.

Is he disappointing, sure. The bottom line is that he has another 8 years to get it right. This is hopefully my last post on the subject.

 

[rpb23]

China vs. Japan in both WS SF.

Chen Yi vs. Miyuu Kihara​

Kuai Man vs. Miyu Nagasaki​

Well balanced match up. Chinese second tier vs. Japanese second tier.
Notice, China didn't send the first tier players and Japan did but got all knocked out before the semi.

 

[Janard]

Well balanced match up. Chinese second tier vs. Japanese second tier.
Notice, China didn't send the first tier players and Japan did but got all knocked out before the semi.

Considering Japan's top leftie is injured and Kihara will probably be unable to replicate Ito's achievements as a pips user, now is arguably one of the best times for Nagasaki to step up.

 

[zeio]

Let's stop being silly here. You don't call youth a failure until it is way too late. That's my point. By this standard, Hayata was already a failure in 2020.

Is he disappointing, sure. The bottom line is that he has another 8 years to get it right. This is hopefully my last post on the subject.

No one is saying he's a failure, just like I didn't write off Hayata a few years back. But unlike Hayata, Matsushima has not shown enough interest/motivation in MD and XD that are actually keeping him relevant. If he doesn't realize the significance of that now, why would anyone be so confident it would necessarily be different in 8 years time? That's no different from expecting DO to get his first win against ML from a statistical standpoint since 2009.

 

[NextLevel]

Considering Japan's top leftie is injured and Kihara will probably be unable to replicate Ito's achievements as a pips user, now is arguably one of the best times for Nagasaki to step up.

Kuai Man has the impression of overtrained precision and control whenever I watch her. It is sometimes ridiculously impressive how the shots are combined to make the opponent miss.

 

[passifid]

5-6 game 3 harimoto vs aruna and harimoto clearly steals a point because he missed a easy put away after screaming for every point against a man 2-0 down who just lost the set 11-3. The replay it clearly didn't hit the shirt. It barely hit the blade on the opposite edge to the shirt.

T. Harimoto, A. Lebrun and T. Moregard are possibly the worst of all the players for sportsmanship.

 

[NextLevel]

5-6 game 3 harimoto vs aruna and harimoto clearly steals a point because he missed a easy put away after screaming for every point against a man 2-0 down who just lost the set 11-3. The replay it clearly didn't hit the shirt. It barely hit the blade on the opposite edge to the shirt.

T. Harimoto, A. Lebrun and T. Moregard are possibly the worst of all the players for sportsmanship.

It's a common call amongst players, even Ma Long called ir on Pitchford erroneously once. It is something ITTF can either address with video review or let go. There is no real sportsmanship component to it, it is something that the IztTF gas to rule on similar to the double hitting rule, I think this should be the same and people should just play through it.

 

[NextLevel]

Maybe with Timo's retirement, Groth can stop playing with impostor syndrome... definitely.not a quality problem...