Teen star sets record at world table tennis event
JAPAN’S Tomokazu Harimoto continues to take the table tennis world by storm after the teenager became the youngest-ever winner at a world junior championships with a 4-3 victory over South Korea’s Cho Seungmin in the boys’ singles final in Cape Town recently.
At the age of 13 years and 163 days, Harimoto won 7-11 9-11 11-6 12-10 11-8 7-11 11-7.
The top seed recovered from two games down to defeat No 2 seed Cho Seungmin in the final.
“It was a difficult title for me to win in South Africa,” Harimoto said.
“The fact that I am the youngest player to win a world title never crossed my mind but I am so excited that I set this new record.”
The championship concluded with the most shocking result ever, with China winning only one gold medal.
Japan dominated, winning three titles. South Korea won two.
Romania made history by winning the girls’ doubles title for the first time.
Adina Diaconu and Andreea Dragoman from Romania also created history by becoming the first European pair to win a doubles title at the world junior championships.
South Korea’s An Jaehyun and Cho Seungmin thrashed the top seeds from Japan, Harimoto and Tonin Ryuzaki, (7-11 11-8 11-4 11-3 11-4) to win the first boys’ doubles title for their nation.
South Korea’s Cho Seungmin and Kim Jiho won the mixed doubles title in a seven-game thriller against Yuki Matsuyama and Hina Hayata of Japan (7-11 11-9 11-9 7-11 8-11 11-3 13-11).
They became the second pair from South Korea to win the mixed doubles title after Kang Dong Hoon and Shim Se Rom lifted the cup in 2005.
The most dramatic victory came in the girls’ singles event as Shi Xunyao won China’s only title of the tournament with her straight games success against Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing.
The final score was 11-2 12-10 13-11 11-3.