2023 ZENNOH CUP Osaka, 11/25-26

As those in the loop are aware, in lieu of selecting the 2 singles players merely by world ranking as how it had been done for the previous Olympics, for Paris 2024, the JTTA has opted for a new selection system in which participating players will collect points in singles event of WTTC, ATTC, Asian Games, All-Japan Championships, T.League and a series of qualifiers between 2022 and 2024, with the period starting the day after Zennihon Takkyu 2022 ends and ending on the day Zennihon Takkyu 2024 ends. The 2 players with the most points will participate in the singles event of Paris 2024.

List of all selection criteria
https://jtta.or.jp/national/selection
Selection criteria for Paris 2024
https://jtta.or.jp/news/12231, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/23152528/20230318_2024oiympic_paris-3.pdf, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20093725/20230318_2024oiympic_paris-1.pdf
https://jtta.or.jp/news/7055, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/06105808/2024olympic_selection_road3-criteria_0606-2.pdf
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/13180714/20210911-selection-Criteria.pdf
Point table
https://jtta.or.jp/news/14641, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/18114506/RTP_point20220922-20230818-4-1.pdf
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/23152254/RTP_point20220922-20230320-3.pdf
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20195011/RTP_point20220922-20230320.pdf
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/16120025/RTP_point20220922-20230116.pdf
https://jtta.or.jp/news/8731, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/22140405/f510ad56970809752aeb0133e90bc3d3.pdf
https://jtta.or.jp/news/8665, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/20114601/2c4c04734cf341a75abe0d13aeb98180.pdf
https://jtta.or.jp/news/7055, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/06110045/2024olympic_selection_road3_point_0606.pdf
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/13184032/20210911-selection-Criteria-point-single.pdf
2024
Selection criteria for Asia Continental Stage of WTTC 2024 and WTTC 2024
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/17165627/2023wttcajiawttc_selection.pdf
2023
Selection criteria for ATTC 2023
https://jtta.or.jp/news/13337, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/16175550/20bfcdef058d8b9facfae8c425d1d8ec.pdf, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/16174316/2023ajiachampionships_selection02200616.pdf
https://jtta.or.jp/news/11705, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20100604/2023ajiachampionships_selection0220.pdf
Selection criteria for Asia Continental Stage of WTTC 2023 and WTTC 2023
https://jtta.or.jp/news/10677, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/13105654/2023wttcajiawttc_selection.pdf
In case of ties, https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2022/09/17/0015648580.shtml
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/06111237/2023wttc_selection_criteria_0606.pdf
Selection criteria for Paris 2024 Qualifier #4 (aka 2023 ZENNOH CUP HIRATSUKA)
https://jtta.or.jp/news/10605, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/09133216/2024olympic_selection_road4-1210plus.pdf
https://jtta.or.jp/news/8731, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/22163250/2024olympic_selection_road4.pdf
Selection criteria for Paris 2024 Qualifier #5 (aka 2023 ZENNOH CUP TOKYO)
https://jtta.or.jp/news/11651, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/14141011/2024olympic_selection_road5.pdf
Selection criteria for Paris 2024 Qualifier #6 (aka 2023 ZENNOH CUP OSAKA)
https://jtta.or.jp/news/12687, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20100759/2024olympic_selection_road6.pdf
Player standings
As of 12/2, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/04102226/RTPP-TOP16-20231204.pdf
As of 11/26, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/27114515/RTPP-TOP16-20231127.pdf
As of 11/18, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/21114742/RTPP-TOP16-20231119.pdf
As of 11/12, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/13105334/RTPP-TOP16-20231113.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001209.000038094.html
As of 11/5, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/07102538/RTPP-TOP16-20231106.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001177.000038094.html
As of 10/29, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/30114622/RTPP-TOP16-20231030.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001145.000038094.html
As of 10/22, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/25181054/RTPP-TOP16-20231023.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001115.000038094.html
As of 10/1, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/02140657/RTPP-TOP16-20231002.pdf
As of 9/8, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11172010/RTPP-TOP16-20230910.pdf
As of 8/30, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/31114322/RTPP-TOP16-20230830.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001072.000038094.html
As of 8/26, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/28111103/RTPP-TOP16-20230828.pdf
As of 8/20, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/21100453/RTPP-TOP16-20230821.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001049.000038094.html
As of 8/15, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/16095226/RTPP-TOP16-20230816.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001029.000038094.html
As of 8/6, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/09120729/RTPP-TOP16-20230807.pdf
As of 7/30, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/02100952/RTPP-TOP16-20230801.pdf
As of 7/23, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/24115725/RTPP-TOP16-20230724.pdf
As of 7/2, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/03100948/RTPP-TOP16-20230703.pdf
As of 6/18, https://jtta.or.jp/news/12855, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20201956/RTPP-TOP16-20230619-2.pdf
As of 5/27, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/29143242/RTPP-TOP8-20230529.pdf
As of 5/7, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/08105341/RTPP-TOP8-20230508.pdf
As of 3/26, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/27100603/RTPP-TOP8-20230327.pdf
As of 3/23, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/24110129/RTPP-TOP8-20230324.pdf
As of 3/13, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20140708/RTPP-TOP8-20230320.pdf
As of 2/26, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/27102220/RTPP-TOP8-20230227.pdf
As of 2/23, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/24113354/RTPP-TOP8-20230224.pdf
As of 2/19, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20102639/RTPP-TOP8-20230219.pdf
As of 2/12, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/13115215/RTPP-TOP8-20230213.pdf
As of 2/6, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/08131834/RTPP-TOP8-20230208.pdf
As of 1/29, https://jtta.or.jp/news/11515, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/30102604/RTPP-TOP8-20230130.pdf
As of 1/9, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/10160033/RTPP-TOP8-20230110.pdf
2022
Selection criteria for WTTC 2022
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/20113004/2022-wttc-qualification-JTTA_20211218.pdf
Selection criteria for Paris 2024 Qualifier #1 (aka 2022 LION CUP TOP32)
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/20114912/d21b748f6124b4cdfcf5fdb2341c96ab-1.pdf
Selection criteria for Asian Games 2022
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/06150957/238ab0f40f386ae9db9e2afb7e5706f6.pdf
Selection criteria for Paris 2024 Qualifier #2 (aka 2022 ZENNOH CUP TOP32 FUKUOKA)
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/12174830/2024olympic_selection_road2-3-0512.pdf
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/28190719/2024olympic_selection_road2-3-0428.pdf
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/07205224/2024olympic_selection_road2-2.pdf
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/07170652/2024olympic_selection_road2.pdf
Selection criteria for Paris 2024 Qualifier #3 (aka 2022 ZENNOH CUP TOP32 FUNABASHI)
https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/27100500/2024olympic_selection_road3.pdf
Player standings
As of 12/28, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/29214441/RTPP-TOP8-20221229.pdf
As of 12/25, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/26102812/RTPP-TOP8-20221226.pdf
As of 12/18, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/19152801/RTPP-TOP8-20221219.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000725.000038094.html
As of 12/4, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/07142904/RTPP-TOP8-20221204.pdf
As of 11/27, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000661.000038094.html
As of 11/20, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/21133142/RTPP-TOP8-20221121.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000641.000038094.html
As of 11/13 after Zennoh Cup Funabashi, https://jtta.or.jp/news/10132, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/14110622/RTPP-TOP8-20221114.pdf
As of 11/6, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/07104324/RTPP-TOP8-20221107.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000613.000038094.html
As of 10/23, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/24105848/RTPP-TOP8-20221024.pdf, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000581.000038094.html
As of 9/25, https://web.archive.org/web/20220926191334/https://jtta.or.jp/national/selection, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/26113700/0ec195f255e165ad5d44c83394664f30.pdf
As of 9/18, https://jtta.or.jp/news/8665, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/20114601/2c4c04734cf341a75abe0d13aeb98180.pdf
As of 9/11, https://jtta.or.jp/news/8572, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/12152201/2a4491bb0ad8cefacfb058eb439da855-1.pdf
As of 9/4 after Zennoh Cup Fukuoka, https://jtta.or.jp/news/8479, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/05215407/c33547c965536300e4726f39e53275d8.pdf
As of 8/14 after Nojima Cup, https://jtta.or.jp/news/8326, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/15142752/c8bc07d3ef67bdabcb669033bf28875c.pdf
As of 3/6 after Lion Cup, https://jtta.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/22110623/714227c7c35397ca9c24894803bf39ba.pdf

There are 6 rounds of qualifiers in total, 3 in 2022 and 3 in 2023:
2022/3/5-6, Paris 2024 Qualifier #1 cum WTTC 2022 Qualifier (aka 2022 LION CUP TOP32), 4 team spots for WTTC 2022 and 1 singles spot for Asian Games 2022
2022/7/16-17 (formerly), 9/3-4 (formerly), 4/9-10, Paris 2024 Qualifier #2 cum Asian Games 2022 Qualifier, [no points] 1 singles spot and 4 team spots for Asian Games 2022
2022/8/13-14, 2022 T.LEAGUE Individual Tournament (aka T.LEAGUE NOJIMA CUP 2022)
2022/7/16-17 (formerly), 9/3-4, Paris 2024 Qualifier #2 (aka 2022 ZENNOH CUP TOP32 FUKUOKA)
2022/11/12-13 (formerly), 11/16-17 (formerly), 11/12-13, Paris 2024 Qualifier #3 (aka 2022 ZENNOH CUP TOP32 FUNABASHI)
2023/1/7-13, Asia Continental Stage of WTTC 2023
2023/1/23-29, Zennihon Takkyu 2023, https://jtta.or.jp/special_cat/zennihon2023, https://jtta.or.jp/news/9563, https://jtta.or.jp/news/10580
2023/4/8-9 (formerly), 5/6-7, Paris 2024 Qualifier #4 (aka 2023 ZENNOH CUP HIRATSUKA)
2023/5/20-28, WTTC 2023
2023/6/17-18, 2023 T.LEAGUE Individual Tournament (aka T.LEAGUE NOJIMA CUP 2023)
2023/9/3-10, ATTC 2023
2023/9/16-17 (formerly), 7/22-23, Paris 2024 Qualifier #5 (aka 2023 ZENNOH CUP TOKYO)
2023/9/23-10/8, Asian Games 2022, https://jtta.or.jp/news/15174
2023/12/16-17 (formerly), 11/25-26, Paris 2024 Qualifier #6 (aka 2023 ZENNOH CUP OSAKA)

------------------------------------------------------------
As of 2023/10/2 after ATTC 2023 and Asian Games 2022
https://i.imgur.com/J9H57Pd.png
https://i.imgur.com/mn3gK9F.png

As of 2023/7/23 after Zennoh Cup Tokyo
https://i.imgur.com/6RKdiNM.png
https://i.imgur.com/M1N5Oa0.png

As of 2023/7/2 for WS after WTT CT Zagreb 2023
https://i.imgur.com/tIFByXz.png

As of 2023/6/18 after Nojima Cup 2023
https://i.imgur.com/gSliZyx.png
https://i.imgur.com/403VLjA.png

As of 2023/5/27 for WS and 2023/5/26 for MS after WTTC 2023
https://i.imgur.com/lnX17ve.png
https://i.imgur.com/3BzA8Me.png

As of 2023/5/7 after Zennoh Cup Hiratsuka
https://i.imgur.com/Wk4JrAQ.png
https://i.imgur.com/LaclAS6.png

As of 2023/3/26 for WS and 2023/3/23 for MS after T.LEAGUE 2022-2023 playoff
https://i.imgur.com/lYnmOAo.png
https://i.imgur.com/ZmVjSOO.png

As of 2023/2/12
https://i.imgur.com/tWlvsiS.png
https://i.imgur.com/Uj26tMB.png

As of 2023/1/30 after Zennihon Takkyu 2023
https://i.imgur.com/JkrwpSg.png
https://i.imgur.com/pXjXkLt.png

As of 2022/12/18
https://i.imgur.com/XliiNlt.png
https://i.imgur.com/OjvsqLv.png

As of 2022/12/4
https://i.imgur.com/bmrj0Kp.png
No matches took place for men after 2022/11/27.
https://i.imgur.com/utoxLbW.png

As of 2022/11/27
https://i.imgur.com/JhtFr70.png
https://i.imgur.com/utoxLbW.png

As of 2022/11/20
https://i.imgur.com/15SoJRU.png
https://i.imgur.com/ypqotPM.png

As of 2022/11/13 after Zennoh Cup Funabashi
https://i.imgur.com/GGYoOqj.png
https://i.imgur.com/rIpRgkj.png

After Lion Cup, below are the selected 5 men and 5 women for WTTC 2022:
Togami, All-Japan 2022 singles champion
Harimoto, 2022 LION CUP TOP32 champion
Oikawa, 2022 LION CUP TOP32 finalist
Yokotani, 2022 LION CUP TOP32 3rd place
Niwa, 2022 LION CUP TOP32 4th place

Ito, Tokyo 2020 singles bronze medalist/All-Japan 2022 singles champion
Hayata, 2022 LION CUP TOP32 champion
Nagasaki, 2022 LION CUP TOP32 finalist
Kihara, 2022 LION CUP TOP32 3rd place
Sato, 2022 LION CUP TOP32 4th place

As the winners, Harimoto and Hayata are also slated for the singles and team events of Asian Games 2022. Ishikawa will be absent for the first time after 14 straight appearances since her debut at WTTC 2007. Hirano was last absent at the WTTC 2016, after her debut at WTTC 2015.

-----------------------
Former thread titles:
Asiad 2022 - 早田/平野/木原/長﨑/張本
ATTC 2023 - 張本/戸上/篠塚/吉山僚/田中
2023 ZENNOH CUP Tokyo, 7/22-23
T.LEAGUE NOJIMA CUP 2023, 6/17-18
2023 ZENNOH CUP Hiratsuka, 5/6-7
WTTC 2023 - Hayata/Ito/Hirano/Kihara/Nagasaki
WTTC 2023 - Hayata/Ito/Hirano/Kihara/???
[Highlight] Hina 4-2 Miwa | Zennoh Cup Funabashi
[Highlight] Miwa 4-1 Mima | Zennoh Cup Funabashi
2022 ZENNOH CUP TOP32 Funabashi, 11/12-13
2022 ZENNOH CUP TOP32 Fukuoka, 9/3-4
T.LEAGUE NOJIMA CUP 2022, 8/13-14
2022 T.LEAGUE Individual Tournament, 8/13-14
JTTA Asian Games 2022 Qualifier, 4/9-10
2022 LION CUP TOP32, 3/5-6 - Road to Paris 2024

Edited by zeio - 12/04/2023 at 2:48pm

Ito's interview after losing to Nagasaki disagrees with my assessment of her performance at Zennihon Takkyu 2022.
https://rallys.online/topic/domestic/220305lioncupitomima/
https://hochi.news/articles/20220305-OHT1T51234.html?page=1
https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2022/03/05/0015111943.shtml

Not long ago, Ito admitted she had been playing poorly after losing to SYS at Tokyo 2020 in the TV Tokyo documentary "伊藤美誠・金メダルの向こうへ" that covered her journey from Tokyo 2020 to WTTC 2021.

Also, she isn't afraid of speaking her mind on incorporating the T.League into selection system.
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2022/03/06/kiji/20220306s00026000290000c.html

Edited by zeio - 03/07/2022 at 11:16am

https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2022/03/05/0015112498.shtml

長崎はパワフルな打球が持ち味のサウスポー。１８年世界�£体は推薦で�£表に選ばれたが、試合での出番はなか�£た。 　２学年上の伊藤、平野、早田ひな（日本生命）の最強トリオは高い牙城となるが、パリ五輪に出場するには倒さないといけないライバル。長崎は「２０００年生まれの３人は小学生時�£から強くて、何でこんなに（自分と）差があるんだろうと思�£たりもしていた。今までは『すごいな、すごいな』と思�£ていたが、自分もやればできると念頭に置いて、（３人は）強いんですけど、先輩たちのようにカッコいい選手になりたい」と闘志を燃やした。

Nagasaki is a southpaw with a powerful shot. In WTTC 2018, she was selected by recommendation, but remained benched throughout the tournament.

The strongest trio of Ito, Hirano, and Hina Hayata (Nippon Life), who are two years older, is a high-ranking stronghold, but it is a rival that must be defeated in order to participate in the Paris Olympics. "The three people born in 2000 have been strong since they were in elementary school, and I was wondering why the gap was so wide between them (and me). Until now, I always thought, "amazing, amazing", while keeping in mind that I can also do it myself, that even though (the three of them) are strong, I want to become a cool player like my seniors," said Nagasaki.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3IY-SqywRU
The emotions displayed in the short clip above echos my predictions for Nagasaki and Kihara.

2018
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/showthread.php?19700-2018-World-Junior-U18-TT-Championships&p=251733&viewfull=1#post251733

At this rate, Nagazaki will drop off the radar. She's only less than 2 years younger than Ito and the likes. If CNT's experience applies as well for JNT, she will live under their shadows and fade away. Kihara has it a little better given those 2 extra years, but it will still be difficult for her.

2019
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/showthread.php?21440-Australian-Open-2019-Platinum&p=281377&viewfull=1#post281377

I still feel the same for Nagasaki. Comparing to Ito and Hirano at the same age, she's already behind.

2020
This one from 5ch, not mine.
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/showthread.php?22664-2020-World-Team-Table-Tennis-Championships&p=317363&viewfull=1#post317363

If that happens, Hirano will have it the worst. Unlike Ishikawa and Ito who have already participated in the Olympics, if Hirano can't participate in the Olympics this time, she may end up without playing the Olympics for a lifetime. 4 years later, in addition to Ito the Great Demon King, the Olympics in Paris will also see Nagasaki and Kihara rising. It's possible that Hayata will be even stronger, so it wouldn't be strange for Hirano to drop out.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/showthread.php?22664-2020-World-Team-Table-Tennis-Championships&p=317366&viewfull=1#post317366

It will be fun to see how my own predictions for Nagasaki and Kihara from 2018 will turn out. Will see how COVID-19 and WTT shuffle the pecking order.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/showthread.php?22664-2020-World-Team-Table-Tennis-Championships&p=319088&viewfull=1#post319088

Yes, for the most part, judging from what happened in 2019 and early 2020. They'll have a much harder time than Hirano, Ito and Hayata when they displaced Ishikawa in 2017, 2018, and 2020. Miwa Harimoto will turn 16 in 2024. This is essentially the Warring States period.

To borrow Wu Jingping's analogy for FZD from 2014, the blockers ahead and pursuers behind Nagasaki and Kihara are some of the strongest not just in recent decades but also in JNT's history, as Hirano implied in an interview after Tokyo 2020.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/showthread.php?23698-Tokyo-2020-2020-7-24-8-9&p=353765&viewfull=1#post353765

——Besides you, Ishikawa, Ito, Hayata et al., there are many strong players now. What do you think of such a table tennis world where various players arise? "Our generation is very strong, and whether from the same era or other generations, many strong players have also emerged, which is really great for the table tennis world, but on the other hand, if I still can’t win there, it’s meaningless, so I want to become the best player among them."

Compared to the Tokyo 2020 cycle, this Paris 2024 cycle highlights even more just how weak and fortunate Ishikawa's era was. Some may find my constant bashing annoying, but the Olympic results justified my assessment of Ishikawa after Rio 2016. Shouldn't have played Tokyo 2020. A third wheel. Any team composition of Ito/Hirano/Hayata/Nagasaki/Kihara would have guaranteed the same results in singles and team at a minimum.

http://mytabletennis.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=77500&PID=958124&title=2016-ittf-world-tour-swedish-open#958124

Now that Ito and Hirano are fast maturing, her role in the team feels awkward.

It's not about age. It's about who has more potential. The current Ishikawa is just like the then Mizutani in 2012, always claiming to beat China only to lose miserably to players from other countries...Ishikawa may be able to beat Ito and Hirano, but she doesn't stand a chance against China. Not that Ito and Hirano are any better, but they have shown the potential.

Harimoto before the WS final match:
Hayata, meet Nagasaki. My ex (XD partner).
Nagasaki, meet Hayata. My current (XD partner).
Uda: Stares...

https://hochi.news/articles/20180701-OHT1T50137.html


https://sirabee.com/2017/10/09/20161304724/


https://world-tt.com/ps_info/ps_report_detail.php?bn=000001&pg=HEAD&page=BACK&rpcdno=1515


Edited by zeio - 03/07/2022 at 2:29pm

zeio wrote: Ito vs Miwa Harimoto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rbnDWuBFf8&t=2341s This point, along with many others in this tournament, shows the potential of women's table tennis since Hirano first demonstrated it in 2017.

I follow this, but not as closely as some of you. Do you think Mima Ito has peaked as a singles player? I watched her matches at the Houston Worlds and I didn't see any forward progress, I got the impression people were catching up to her game and tactics.

My picks for the 2024 Olympics:  Ito, Hayata, Nagasaki

jfolsen wrote: I follow this, but not as closely as some of you. Do you think Mima Ito has peaked as a singles player? I watched her matches at the Houston Worlds and I didn't see any forward progress, I got the impression people were catching up to her game and tactics.

Hi Donn, agree that 2 years is a long time in sport. But why persist with players who have failed time and time again against the Chinese ?  There is a famous saying:  "  Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Kasumi & Hirano have tried many times but failed to beat the Chinese.  They would more than likely disappoint again in 2024. Judging by potential, recent form and results, Hayata and Nagasaki are better players anyway. A change of personnel is necessary in my opinion. Ito is Ito, she is still regarded as the best player in Japan.

Edited by jackwong23 - 03/08/2022 at 10:10am

Hayata vs Shibata
https://youtu.be/PJMcDrfEoOQ?t=276
A half long serve to force a weak opening loop from Hayata and then pivot to counterloop that return. The FH stroke, footwork and grit involved in this setplay practically made it exclusive to the men not that long ago. Now you see more and more women pull that off. The next several points and the subsequent games also saw them both trying to finish with the FH whenever possible, another trait that was uncommon in the women's game several years ago.

https://youtu.be/PJMcDrfEoOQ?t=851
Hayata's trademark asian squat FH, no easy feat even for asians.

Harimoto, and I mean Miwa's older brother and Hayata's current (XD partner), could take a page from the book of "masculinization of the women's style". I still think Hayata could outrun him now.

https://youtu.be/PJMcDrfEoOQ?t=1149
https://youtu.be/PJMcDrfEoOQ?t=1216
https://youtu.be/PJMcDrfEoOQ?t=1281
The camera angle also makes Hayata's BH issue obvious, as explained by Li Sun that starting the BH swing low is not necessary with the ABS ball.

https://youtu.be/PJMcDrfEoOQ?t=1327
Another notable pointer of "masculinization" is the hit-right-back/turn-the-tables shot when clearly out of position after losing the initiative as Hayata demonstrates in this point. It was more or less exclusive to the men's game but the frequency of occurence has increased since the change to ABS ball that you start seeing it in the women's game regularly. Hayata has consistently done it like here and here. Ito has pulled it off time from time that anticipation can make up for height and reach. Here is one by Feng Yalan in 2010.

Hayata vs Kihara
https://youtu.be/R3LCx_TIMXI?t=1197/https://youtu.be/hTJUcOp_NB0?t=184
https://youtu.be/R3LCx_TIMXI?t=2500/https://youtu.be/hTJUcOp_NB0?t=240
Hayata: I can do it all day long.

Ito vs Nagasaki
https://youtu.be/id3H7TlDYRA?t=726
Nagasaki: I can do it as well.

Edited by zeio - 03/08/2022 at 11:34am

jackwong23's worldview:
WTTC Suzhou: happened.
WTTC Dusseldorf: happened.
WTTC Budapest: happened.
WTTC Houston: did not happen.

Edited by zeio - 03/08/2022 at 11:41am

NextLevel wrote: jackwong23 wrote: Japan's last Olympics selection process was obviously flawed, therefore they did not pick the best players.  They simply picked the highest ranked players to play in the last Olympics. That was insane. You pick your best players according to ability, not according to the Ittf ranking. As I said millions of times before,  Hayata should have been picked in the last Olympics and WTTC.  She has been arguably the second best player in Japan for the last 3 years. Japan missed a trick by not picking her in the last Olympics and world championship.  Kasumi and Hirano will not pose any serious threat to the Chinese and picking them would just be a waste of 2 precious spots. My picks for the 2024 Olympics:  Ito, Hayata, Nagasaki Did we watch the same WTTC where Hayata was in Houston?

Edited by jackwong23 - 03/08/2022 at 11:59am

jackwong23 wrote: NextLevel wrote: jackwong23 wrote: Japan's last Olympics selection process was obviously flawed, therefore they did not pick the best players.  They simply picked the highest ranked players to play in the last Olympics. That was insane. You pick your best players according to ability, not according to the Ittf ranking. As I said millions of times before,  Hayata should have been picked in the last Olympics and WTTC.  She has been arguably the second best player in Japan for the last 3 years. Japan missed a trick by not picking her in the last Olympics and world championship.  Kasumi and Hirano will not pose any serious threat to the Chinese and picking them would just be a waste of 2 precious spots. My picks for the 2024 Olympics:  Ito, Hayata, Nagasaki Did we watch the same WTTC where Hayata was in Houston? No, I am talking about the 2019 WTTC singles and doubles tourney in Budapest where Hayata should have been selected. The Japanese players selected at that tourney were Kasumi Ishikawa, Mima Ito, Miu Hirano, Hitomi Sato and Miyu Kato.

NextLevel wrote: jackwong23 wrote: NextLevel wrote: jackwong23 wrote: Japan's last Olympics selection process was obviously flawed, therefore they did not pick the best players.  They simply picked the highest ranked players to play in the last Olympics. That was insane. You pick your best players according to ability, not according to the Ittf ranking. As I said millions of times before,  Hayata should have been picked in the last Olympics and WTTC.  She has been arguably the second best player in Japan for the last 3 years. Japan missed a trick by not picking her in the last Olympics and world championship.  Kasumi and Hirano will not pose any serious threat to the Chinese and picking them would just be a waste of 2 precious spots. My picks for the 2024 Olympics:  Ito, Hayata, Nagasaki Did we watch the same WTTC where Hayata was in Houston? No, I am talking about the 2019 WTTC singles and doubles tourney in Budapest where Hayata should have been selected. The Japanese players selected at that tourney were Kasumi Ishikawa, Mima Ito, Miu Hirano, Hitomi Sato and Miyu Kato. It isn't the last WTTC, it was the 2019 WTTC.  And for this admittedly flawed process, let's remember that Hayata lost a direct matchup with Kato for the spot that could have changed her fate.

Edited by jackwong23 - 03/08/2022 at 12:18pm

NextLevel wrote: It might sound crazy to contemplate right now, but Ito might not make 2024.  Between Hayata, Nagasaki, Harimoto, and Kihara, there is enough competition.  Ito's biggest advantage is that it is only 2 years away.  But a lot can happen in 2 years.

Edited by jackwong23 - 03/08/2022 at 12:53pm

All for the competition