Harimoto hails new era as Japan dethrone table tennis kings China

NAGOYA: Tomokazu Harimoto declared Japan had shed their inferiority complex following a thrilling final in which they dethroned table tennis giants China, marking the end of a 32-year reign. China had clinched gold in this event at every Asian Games since 1994, but their rule was broken when Sora Matsushima defeated Wen Ruibo in the climactic match, securing a 3-2 victory for Japan.

Harimoto, whose family hails from China, expressed that the win symbolized their lack of confidence prior to the competition. "I'm happy, but looking at the actual contest, there was nothing unusual about the way we played or the outcome. We just managed to attain the one thing we'd been missing -- confidence," he stated.

China's roster included world number one Wang Chuqin, while Harimoto and his teammate Matsushima, ranked fourth and three respectively, represented Japan. China had traditionally boasted six to seven strong players, explaining their prolonged dominance. Harimoto, who refrained from watching the final from the sidelines, attributed his decision to a personal superstition. After narrowly beating Wang to bring the score to 2-2, Harimoto feared Matsushima might see him on the bench.

Wang had initially taken the lead in the opening match against Matsushima but lost 3-0 to Harimoto. The Chinese player confessed, "Psychologically, I ran into problems." He suggested that China may have panicked, rushing shots in their attempt to improve. The men's team defeat left a sour taste among Chinese fans, who expressed their displeasure on social media platforms. Some users criticized the team for a lack of continuity and talent, stating, "There is no one coming through."