The End of the Harimoto Dream

Catching up on Harimoto.

Harimoto looks back on WTTC 2023 Durban in a 5-part interview with Butterfly.

In part 1, he talks about the XD silver bronze medal, MD R64 and MS R128 to R16.
In part 2, he talks about the reason LJK could get a medal and he could not.
In part 3, he talks about LJK being able to serve a float in that situation.
In part 4, he talks about how he prepared for WTTC 2023, how he fought, how to deal with the results, what he thinks about the next 10 years. Here is the interesting part. He thinks FZD failed to overcome ML, and ML failed to overcome WH. Unlike them, he feels that ZJK, in between MLin and WH, changed the status quo with his own power. In terms of table tennis, he prefers ZJK to ML. ML is amazing but it is simply the result of working and playing diligently. Therefore, if possible, he prefers not having to wait for them (FZD and WCQ) to retire and intends to prevent WCQ and LSD from taking the baton from FZD.
In part 5, he talks about his 2nd round of table tennis life, how he doesn't lose confidence anymore no matter how many times he loses domestically, how increasing the level of consistency, steadiness, and solidity is more important, how only the gold medal will make him happy etc...

張本智和インタビュー　世界卓球2023ダーバンを振り返る①
https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/022663.html
張本智和インタビュー　世界卓球2023ダーバンを振り返る②
https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/022665.html
張本智和インタビュー　世界卓球2023ダーバンを振り返る③
https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/022666.html
張本智和インタビュー　世界卓球2023ダーバンを振り返る�£
https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/022667.html
張本智和インタビュー　世界卓球2023ダーバンを振り返る⑤
https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/022669.html

Harimoto Chinese Station at Weibo has posted a Chinese machine translation.
1
https://weibo.com/7356558275/N7gYfDPas
2
https://weibo.com/7356558275/N7jbMaXmK
3
https://weibo.com/7356558275/N7jgKmLh2
4
https://weibo.com/7356558275/N7jmoqG30
5
https://weibo.com/7356558275/N7jtQBMw7

Edited by zeio - 07/09/2023 at 2:05am

zeio wrote: Catching up on Harimoto. Harimoto looks back on WTTC 2023 Durban in a 5-part interview with Butterfly. In part 1, he talks about the XD silver bronze medal, MD R64 and MS R128 to R16. In part 2, he talks about the reason LJK could get a medal and he could not. In part 3, he talks about LJK being able to serve a float in that situation. In part 4, he talks about how he prepared for WTTC 2023, how he fought, how to deal with the results, what he thinks about the next 10 years. Here is the interesting part. He thinks FZD failed to overcome ML, and ML failed to overcome WH. Unlike them, he feels that ZJK, in between MLin and WH, changed the status quo with his own power. In terms of table tennis, he prefers ZJK to ML. ML is amazing but it is simply the result of working and playing diligently. Therefore, if possible, he prefers not having to wait for them (FZD and WCQ) to retire and intends to prevent WCQ and LSD from taking the baton from FZD. In part 5, he talks about his 2nd round of table tennis life, how he doesn't lose confidence anymore no matter how many times he loses domestically, how increasing the level of consistency, steadiness, and solidity is more important, how only the gold medal will make him happy etc... 張本智和インタビュー　世界卓球2023ダーバンを振り返る① https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/022663.html 張本智和インタビュー　世界卓球2023ダーバンを振り返る② https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/022665.html 張本智和インタビュー　世界卓球2023ダーバンを振り返る③ https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/022666.html 張本智和インタビュー　世界卓球2023ダーバンを振り返る�£ https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/022667.html 張本智和インタビュー　世界卓球2023ダーバンを振り返る⑤ https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/022669.html Harimoto Chinese Station at Weibo has posted a Chinese machine translation. 1 https://weibo.com/7356558275/N7gYfDPas 2 https://weibo.com/7356558275/N7jbMaXmK 3 https://weibo.com/7356558275/N7jgKmLh2 4 https://weibo.com/7356558275/N7jmoqG30 5 https://weibo.com/7356558275/N7jtQBMw7

After what happened at ATTC 2023, I felt it's a good time to translate the relevant parts from part 4 of the interview.

20�£は復習。今までに�£いた問題を�£なく答えるだけ --10�£は苦しい時期も長か�£たと思いますが、20�£は楽しくなりそうですね。 張本　13、14歳の頃に活躍したメリットが、や�£と今にな�£て現れてきた感じですね。逆に去年までは一番つらか�£たですね。最初は何事も楽しくて、停滞する時期があ�£て、そこでやめるか、もう一回楽しい時期が来るかと思�£ていましたが、今は、楽しい時期がもう来始めている気はしています。 　もう、どんな失敗も、どんな負け方も経験したし、0対3から逆転もあるし、3対0から逆転もされたし、たぶん、あらゆる場面を10�£のうちに経験してきました。 　オリンピックを含めて、出たことがない大会もないし、勉強で言�£たら、20�£は復習ですね。今までに�£いた問題を、�£なく答えるだけ。自分が勝てなか�£た選手はどんどん引退していくし、そうなれば自分が一番上に来ますよね。 　中国を見ても、張継科、馬龍、樊振東、王楚欽がいて、今は馬龍、樊振東の時�£から樊振東、王楚欽の時�£にな�£て、中国にしてみれば、王楚欽、林詩�£�の時�£につなげたいところだと思いますが、そこで自分が邪魔する、台頭するイメージですね。自分は林詩�£�よりも何年も早く活躍していますし、王楚欽は僕より先に出てきていますが、その次は絶対に僕だと思�£ています。そこが目標ですね。 --張本選手の中では明確に未来予想図が描けているという感じですね。 張本　この数年だけでも、サムソノフ（ベラルーシ）とか水谷さん（水谷隼／木下グループ）、丹羽さん（丹羽孝希／スヴェンソンホールデ�£ングス）が（国際大会を）引退したのを見て、誰がいつ引退するのかも見てきましたし、誰が大体どこまでやるか、いつにな�£たら自分が一番上になるのかはなんとなくは見えています。 　例えば、もし馬龍、樊振東、梁靖崑、王楚欽が全員引退したら、必然的に僕が1位になると思いますが、それを待�£ているようでは絶対にダメだし、そこを超えるつもりでやらなければいけません。その時には強い若手が出てくるかもしれないけど、単純計算で言えばそういうことになるので、そこまでの我慢という気持ちもあります。 　一方で、今の上の4人を打ち破りたいという気持ちもありますが、今はすべてを手に入れた馬龍も、その前は王皓に（世界卓球で）3回負けています。樊振東も、それまでは馬龍に負けていて、馬龍が出場していないあの1回（世界卓球2021ヒューストン）で優勝したので、馬龍を打ち破�£て優勝したわけではない。 　そういう意味では、張継科は馬琳、王皓がいた中で、自分の力で変えたと感じました。卓球だけだ�£たら僕は馬龍より張継科の方が好きですね。馬龍もすごいけど、ちゃんとやることをや�£た結果、ちゃんと卓球を続けた結果で今がある。もちろん、すごい努力もしたし、心が折れそうな時もあ�£たと思いますが、最後まで王皓のことは打ち破れませんでした。 　だから、「待�£ていれば来る」と思わずに努力し続けることができれば、来ると思います。ちゃんと自分が樊振東に勝ちたい、王楚欽に勝ちたいと思�£て努力し続ければ、その時はや�£てくるのかなと。 突然変異だからこそ分かる「強くても勝てない」理由 --そうした中で、張本選手のような突然変異的な強い選手が出てくるという怖さはありませんか？ 張本　いや、あります。林詩�£�にはそういう怖さを感じますし、樊振東も出てきた時はそんな感じだ�£たと思いますが、結局、馬龍に勝てなくて、それも経験の差だ�£たと思うんですよね。たぶん、デュッセルドルフ（世界卓球2017デュッセルドルフ）の時も樊振東の方が強か�£たけど、決勝で馬龍に勝てなくて、ハンガリー（世界卓球2019ブダペスト）でも4回戦で梁靖崑に負けて、そこには絶対に理由があると思うんですよ。自分が突然変異だからこそ分かります。「強くても勝てない」という理由が。 　僕も13歳で出てきて、もしかしたら今ごろ世界チ�£ンピオンにな�£ているのをみんなが期待していたし、自分も期待していたかもしれません。去年、一昨年までは、僕も、チ�£ンスがあ�£たのにできなか�£たと思�£ていましたが、最近は、14歳で馬龍に勝てたから�£て、イコール・オリンピックチ�£ンピオンじゃないんだということが分かります。 　そんなこと言�£たら、僕が小学生の時に市民大会で僕に勝�£たおじさんもいますし（笑）、誰に勝てたから、負けたからどうこうというのはなくて、勝敗は一個の成長するポイントというだけであ�£て、負けも忘れてしま�£たら意味がない。 　僕は、全日本ジュニア（平成28年度全日本卓球選手権大会ジュニアの部、男子準々決勝）で宮本春樹さん（クローバー歯科カスピッズ）に負けたのを今でも覚えています。その次は、全日本（平成30年度全日本卓球選手権大会男子シングルス準決勝）で大島さん（大島祐哉／木下グループ）に負けたのが悔しい、宇田さん（宇田幸矢／明治大学）に負けた（2020年全日本卓球男子シングルス決勝）のが悔しい、今は、梁靖崑に負けたのが悔しいと、悔しいのレベルがだんだん上が�£てきているのもいいことですし、次は樊振東に負けて悔しいと思えれば、その次には樊振東に勝てると思�£ています。 　今までは�£�び級で上が�£てきたので、最後は、し�£かり一歩一歩、突き詰めて登れればいいのかと思います。 --最後は�£�び級しないで「（樊振東に）負けて悔しい」をちゃんと通過していくんですね？ 張本　もちろん�£�び越えられるなら�£�び越えたいですけど、�£�び越えるのがどれだけ�£しいか。相手も頑張�£ているし、自分だけが悔しくて、自分だけが頑張�£ているわけではないので。もちろん、一瞬でオリンピックチ�£ンピオンになれるならなりたいですけど、簡単になれないのは分か�£ています。 　樊振東でさえ、その�£�び級はできていないし、自分の番が回�£てきて、そのチ�£ンスを生かしているだけであ�£て、王楚欽も普通に行けば、樊振東がもう少し年を取�£てから、1回はチ�£ンピオンになるでしょう。それを邪魔するのが目標ですね。次は王楚欽じゃないぞ、林詩�£�でもないぞ�£て。 　ボルもオフチ�£ロフ（ともにドイツ）も、結局最後、そういう「邪魔」をできていませんよね。中国選手1人に勝�£てベスト4はあるけど、最後まではいけていない。女子でも早田さん（早田ひな／日本生命）が王芸迪（中国）に勝�£たのはすごいけど、孫穎莎（中国）がいて、その次には陳夢（中国）が待�£ていて、�£�が3枚ある。だから、1歩1歩進んでいきたいですね。

The 20s are all about reviewing. Just answer the questions you have solved so far without difficulty

--I think there were a lot of difficult times in your teens, but it looks like your 20s are going to be fun.

Harimoto: I feel like the benefits of being active when I was 13 or 14 are finally starting to show up now. On the other hand, up until last year was the hardest. At first, everything was fun, and then there was a period of stagnation, and I thought whether I would stop there or another period of fun would come, but now I feel like the period of fun has already begun.
　I've experienced all kinds of failures and losses, I've come back from 0-3, and the tables have been turned on me from 3-0, and I've probably experienced all kinds of situations in my teens.
　Including the Olympics, there aren't any competitions I haven't participated in, so in terms of studying, my 20s are a refresher. Just answer the questions you have solved so far without difficulty. The players I couldn't defeat will gradually retire, and if that happens, I will be at the top.
　If you look at China, there were Zhang Jike, Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Wang Chuqin, and now we have moved from the era of Ma Long and Fan Zhendong to the era of Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin, and from China's perspective, they would like to connect it to the era of Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong. Yet, I think the impression is for me to get in the way and rise up. I've been active many years earlier than Lin Shidong, and Wang Chuqin came out before me, but I definitely think I'll be next. That's the goal.

--It seems like Harimoto has a clear vision of the future.

Harimoto: In just the past few years, we've seen Samsonov (Belarus), Mizutani-san (Jun Mizutani/Kinoshita Group), and Niwa-san (Koki Niwa/Svensson Holdings) retire (from international competitions), and I've seen who is going to retire and when, to what extent can someone go and when I'll be at the top.
　For example, if Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Liang Jingkun, and Wang Chuqin all retire, I think I will inevitably become number one, but I definitely can't wait for that to happen, and have to work with the intention of surpassing that. At that point, strong young players may emerge, but if you just do some simple calculations, that's what will happen, so I have to be patient.
　On the other hand, I also want to beat the top 4 players, but Ma Long, who has gotten everything now, lost to Wang Hao 3 times (in WTTC) before that. Fan Zhendong had also lost to Ma Long up until that point, and won the championship (WTTC 2021 Houston) that one time when Ma Long did not participate, so he did not defeat Ma Long to win the championship.
　In this sense, Zhang Jike, in the presence of Ma Lin and Wang Hao, changed the status quo with his own power. In terms of table tennis, I prefer Zhang Jike to Ma Long. Ma Long is also amazing, but it is simply the result of working and playing diligently. Of course, he put in a lot of effort, and there were times when he was going to give up, but he couldn't break through Wang Hao until the very end.
　So, if you can keep trying and not think, "If I wait, it will come", I think it will come. If I keep working hard because I want to beat Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin, I wonder if that time will arrive.

The reason why you can't win even if you're strong, as explained by a mutant (spontaneous mutations)

--Under that scenario, is there any fear that a strong mutant player like Harimoto will emerge?

Harimoto: Yes, there is. I feel that kind of fear in Lin Shidong, and I think Fan Zhendong was like that when he came out, but in the end, he couldn't beat Ma Long, and I think that was also due to the difference in experience. Fan Zhendong was probably stronger in Dusseldorf (WTTC 2017 Dusseldorf), but he couldn't beat Ma Long in the final, and in Hungary (WTTC 2019 Budapest) he lost to Liang Jingkun in the fourth round, and I think there must be a reason. I understand this because I am a mutant. The reason is that "even if you're strong, you can't win."
　I made my debut when I was 13 years old, and everyone was expecting me to become a World Champion by now, and I might have expected that too. Last year and the year before that, I thought I had the chance but couldn't do it, but these days I realize that just because I was able to beat Ma Long at the age of 14 doesn't mean I'm an Olympic Champion.
　Put another way, there was an old man who beat me in a town tournament when I was in elementary school (lol), so I don't care about who won or lost, I just think that winning and losing is a point for growth. There's no point in losing if you forget.
　I still remember losing to 宮本春樹/MIYAMOTO Haruki-san (Clover Dental Cuspids) in the Junior Boys event of the All-Japan Championship (2017 All-Japan TTC Junior Boys Quarterfinal). After that, I feel bad losing to Oshima-san (Yuya Oshima/Kinoshita Group) at All-Japan (2018 All-Japan TTC Men's Singles Semifinal), and I feel bad losing to Uda-san (Yukiya Uda/Meiji University) (2020 All-Japan TTC Men's Singles Final), and now I feel bad losing to Liang Jingkun and it's good that the level of my frustration is gradually increasing. Next time, if I'll feel bad losing to Fan Zhendong, I think I can beat Fan Zhendong the next time.
　Up until now, I have been skipping the ranks, so in the end, I think I just need to take it one step at a time and push myself to the top.

--In the end, not skipping ranks and passing through the "I feel bad losing (to Fan Zhendong)" part, right?

Harimoto: Of course, I would like to jump over it if I could, but how difficult it would be. The opponent is also working hard, so I'm not the only one who feels frustrated because I'm working hard. Of course, if I could become an Olympic Champion in an instant, I would be happy to, but I know it won't be easy.
　Even Fan Zhendong has not been able to make that leap, and he is just taking advantage of the opportunity when his turn comes around. If Wang Chuqin also goes about his career normally, when Fan Zhendong gets a little older, he will be able to become the champion once. The goal is to prevent that. The next one won't be Wang Chuqin, nor will it be Lin Shidong.
　Neither Boll nor Ovtcharov (both from Germany) were able to "get in the way" in the end. I may beat 1 Chinese player and finish top 4, but I haven't made it all the way to the end. Even among the women, it's amazing that Hayata-san (Hina Hayata/Nippon Life Insurance Company) defeated Wang Yidi (China), but there is Sun Yingsha (China), and after that, Chen Meng (China) is waiting, so there are 3 walls. So, I want to move forward one step at a time.

Edited by zeio - 09/10/2023 at 1:59pm

troubadour wrote: He's a deep thinker. Impressive for his age.

Edited by NextLevel - 09/12/2023 at 4:19pm

troubadour wrote: NextLevel wrote: troubadour wrote: He's a deep thinker. Impressive for his age.  He had better be, to me, the fact that he was coddled a bit by shielding him from defending his WJTTC title after he won it was destructive to his development.  He should have been forced to play those events to get over the fear of losing and to fully understand that winning the title doesn't mean the battle for self improvement is over. Nah I believe that was the right decision to take, introducing him to the big stage that early and beating the top players as early as 14 is SELF IMPROVEMENT, most of his struggles now are due to the limitations of his game; which cannot be remedied by playing one more WJTTC but by deliberate instructions, stylistic changes and tactics. China fielded Yu Heyi, Xu Yingbin and Xu Haidong for at least 2 WJTTCs and WYCs. Their mark on the senior circuit is nowhere to be found. Xu Yingbin is still sputtering and halting, others are not even in the roadside.

ZApenholder wrote: NextLevel wrote: troubadour wrote: NextLevel wrote: troubadour wrote: He's a deep thinker. Impressive for his age.  He had better be, to me, the fact that he was coddled a bit by shielding him from defending his WJTTC title after he won it was destructive to his development.  He should have been forced to play those events to get over the fear of losing and to fully understand that winning the title doesn't mean the battle for self improvement is over. Nah I believe that was the right decision to take, introducing him to the big stage that early and beating the top players as early as 14 is SELF IMPROVEMENT, most of his struggles now are due to the limitations of his game; which cannot be remedied by playing one more WJTTC but by deliberate instructions, stylistic changes and tactics. China fielded Yu Heyi, Xu Yingbin and Xu Haidong for at least 2 WJTTCs and WYCs. Their mark on the senior circuit is nowhere to be found. Xu Yingbin is still sputtering and halting, others are not even in the roadside. There is no reason why one can't play the WJTTC and play in senior tournaments as well, both Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu did, and Xiang Peng and Lin Shidong as well.  The Chinese system with competition is also a bit different, let's not confuse whether a player is able to make team A over players like Lin Gaoyuan and Liang Jingkun with whether the player should be playing the WJTTC.   I think he would have addressed the limitations of his game had he also defended the WJTTC, as some of it is mental and related to choking against lower ranked opponents/underdogs because of a status of entitlement and refusing to take risks when the chips are down.  When he talks about skipping steps, he is admitting that this was a mistake.  You can see it differently. I think it is fair to say that both systems - CNT and JNT, do not really put the WJTTC in high regards. They are looking at the bigger picture when planning. For JNT, Tokyo 2020 was getting closer and closer, and they really had to speed up the process of these kids. Maybe if they had 2024 rather, then maybe they won't turn senior pro so early.

Edited by NextLevel - 09/14/2023 at 12:47pm

Usually, the CNT has a policy of not sending the player if the player makes Team A - most of the players who play WJTTC are still on the junior team/team B.  So Lin Shidong might not play it this year and that is understandable.  It is not so much about sending their best juniors to play, but about whether you think there is something that the junior needs to learn from playing.  I can say for example that it is very hard to explain why they felt Xiang Peng needed to play twice, especially after he won the year prior, but it had to be about his development in some fashion.

Took me a good deal of effort to dig this up. Miyazaki was aware of the issues of leapfrogging back at WTTC 2019.

Reproducing the post here for future reference.

https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/201904270001068.html
http://sports.sina.com.cn/others/pingpang/2019-04-28/doc-ihvhiewr8639142.shtml

準決勝まで強豪中国と当たらない組み合わせで男子シングルス40年ぶりのメダルが期待された張本だが、格下に敗退。宮崎氏は「張本は�£�び級で大きな大会に出ている半面、同年�£や格下に向か�£ていくメンタルが弱いことが分か�£た」と語�£た。今後、張本のような�£�び級選手が出てきた場合、格下にも向か�£ていける精神をつくるため、同年�£の大会にも出すことを協会として検討するという。 男子の倉嶋�£�£は「チキータだけでなく中国の馬竜のように多くの攻撃パターンを身に付ける必要がある」と今後の強化方針を示した。張本は帰国翌日の5月1日～7日まで、右手薬指のケガを治すために休養を取る。 宮崎氏は8強の丹羽について「低身長、パワーもない日本選手は独創的なプレーが必要。丹羽はそのお手本」と高く評価した。「日常の練習から、そのプレーを増やした方が良い」と付け加えた。 東京五輪へ向けたダブルスのペアリングも本格化する。5月末の中国オープンでは丹羽、水谷が男子ダブルスにエントリー。左利き同�£�は�£しいとされるが「五輪へ向けて世界ランクが日本人で2番目、3番目の2人なので、試す必要性がある」と話した。 混合ダブルスでは、吉村・石川組が銀メダルを獲得したが、吉村は同ランク33位で日本人6番目。来年1月のランク上位2人が五輪シングルス�£表に、�£体戦�£表の3人目を強化本部推薦で決める。五輪新種目の混合についても3人に入らなければ出場できない。吉村については「当然3番目が優先される。3番目の選手がダブルス不向きなら4番目。6番目では�£しい」と一定の目安を示した。

Although he is expected to win a medal in 40 years for the men's singles in a block that wouldn't meet China until the semi-final, it ended in defeat to a lower-ranked player. Miyazaki said, "Although Harimoto has leapfrogged at a major tournament, I found that his mentality is weak against lower-ranked players and those from the same era." In the future, if another leapfrogging player like Harimoto ever rises, the association will consider sending him to tournaments of the same age group in order to develop a strong mind.

The men's headcoach Kurashima pointed out that he would like to strengthen the future by saying that "in addition to chiquita, it's necessary to acquire many attack patterns as Ma Long of China." Harimoto will take a rest to focus on healing his right ring finger from May 1st to 7th, the day after his return.

Miyazaki highly regarded Niwa for making QF as "Japan players who with small stature or power need creative play. Niwa is a role model." "It's better to improve this aspect from daily practice," he added.

The doubles pairing for Tokyo Olympics will also be in full swing. At the Chinese Open at the end of May, Niwa and Mizutani will enter the men's doubles. It's said that left-handed ones are difficult, but "it is necessary to try because their world ranking are 2nd in Japan and 3rd in the world towards the Olympics".

In the mixed doubles, Yoshimura/Ishikawa pair won the silver medal, but Yoshimura who's ranked 33rd is 6th in Japan. The top 2 in January next year will be selected for the Olympic singles, and the 3rd team member will be recommended by development headquarters. It's not possible to enter the Olympics new mixed doubles without having 3 people. As for Yoshimura, he said, "Of course, the 3rd spot is prioritized. The 3rd player is the 4th if he's not good at doubles. It is difficult at 6th."

troubadour wrote: What do y'all posit Lin Gaoyuan's three silvers at consecutive WJTTC did to his psyche??

張本智和が2ヶ月余りの遠征から帰国「林選手はキレが違�£た」。妹・美和選手は「もうすぐ世界ランクトップ10にも入�£てくると思う」【卓球 WTTチ�£ンピオンズ】
https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/tabletennis/news/2023/11/031831.html

■張本智和 帰国コメント ーー今大会を振り返�£て 初戦でアジア大会で敗れたチ�£ン選手と戦�£てし�£かりとリベンジできたのは良か�£たですし、次も勝�£てベスト8までいけたのは良か�£たんですが、同世�£のライバル林選手に今大会優勝されてしまいました。 1ゲーム目も途中まで勝�£ていたり、3ゲーム目も途中まで点差が拮抗していたりと勝つチ�£ンスは充分にあ�£たんですが、強い選手とやる時は最後の1本、2本が取り切れなか�£たりするので、そうい�£たカギになるポイントを取り切れるように頑張りたいと思います。 ーー約2ヶ月強の遠征で得られたものや課題は？ まずは体の面で問題が出てしま�£たので、そうなると技術や戦術云々では成り立たなくな�£てしまいます。一つ目の課題としてまずはコンデ�£ションですし、その上で最後の1本、2本が取るという課題。その2つですね、体と技術が課題だと思います。 一番は体力ですね。もうちょ�£と体を絞�£たり、も�£と厳しい練習で足を速くしたりとか。林選手の動きを見ていてもキレが違うなと思いました。技術はそこまで負けているところは多くないと思います。卓球選手はフォアハンドが一番パワーが出るので、フォアが使える比率を多くしないとという意識を再確認させられたような気がしました。 ーー今年20歳になり20�£最初のシーズンだ�£たと思うが、やり残したことは？ 国際大会では、今年6年ぶりくらいにタイトルが獲れなか�£たのでそこはちょ�£と悔いが残ります。2、3回獲�£た年もあるし、こうや�£て1回も獲れない年もあることは必然だと思うので、今年のこの悔しさを来年晴らせるようにしたいです。 国内ではまだ何試合か残�£ているので多く勝てるように、今年見つか�£た課題をできるだけ今年の内に克服できるように頑張りたいなと思います。 ーー1回戦で平野美宇選手に勝利した、妹・美和選手（2回戦敗退）の活躍について シニアの舞台でも僕達と同じように戦�£ていますし、応援する気持ちは変わらないですがそれ以上に自分も頑張らないといけないという刺激をもらえるので、今後も一緒に頑張�£ていきたいと思います。 これが妹のシニアの舞台での第一歩だと思いますし、多分常�£にな�£てくると思うので、いつかは一緒に優勝できるように。それが兄妹の目標かなと思います。 今回もちょ�£と一緒に練習をしたり、プレーを見ていても強くて女子のトップ選手の一人です。もうすぐ世界ランクのトップ10にも入�£てくると思うので、自分の好きなように卓球をや�£てほしいですね。そうすれば、き�£とも�£と強くなれると思います。自分はいち観客として見守�£ていきたいです。 ーー最後に、6回目のパリ五輪�£表選考会（11月25日～26日）に向けての意気込みは？ 今回ベスト4かそれ以上いけば1位が確定すると思うので、し�£かり出場して1位を確定させたいと思います。

■ Tomokazu Harimoto's comment after returning home

--Looking back on this tournament

It was good that I was able to get my revenge against JWJ, to whom I lost last time at the Asian Games 2022, and it was good that I won this time and made it to the QF, but the same-gene rival LYJ won the tournament.

I was leading halfway through G1, and the point difference was close until halfway through G3 and I had plenty of chances to win, but when playing against strong players, I just can't close out the last 1 or 2 points. I want to work on getting these crucial points.

--What did you learn and what challenges did you have during your 2-month long expedition?

First of all, physical issues cropped up, so if that happens, I won't be able to rely on technique or tactics. The first issue is the condition, and then the issue of closing out the last 1 or 2 points. I think those are the 2 issues, physical and technical.

The most important thing is physical strength. I'd like to tighten my body a little more, or do more rigorous training to make my legs faster. When I watched LYJs movements, I noticed that his agility was different. I don't think there are many areas where technique is lacking that much. Table tennis players generate the most power with their forehand, so I feel that I have reaffirmed that I need to increase the proportion of my forehand use.

--You turned 20 this year, and that was your first season in your 20s. What do you have left unfinished?

In international tournaments, this was the first time in 6 years that I failed to win a title, so I feel a little disappointed. There are years when I catch it 2 or 3 times, and I think it's inevitable that there are years like this where I don't catch it at all, so I want to make up for this year's disappointment next year.

There are still a few matches left in Japan, so I will do my best to win as many matches as possible and overcome the issues found this year as much as possible by the end of the year.

--About the performance of your younger sister Miwa (lost in the second round), who defeated Miu Hirano in the first round.

She is competing just like us on the senior stage, and I will continue to support her, but even more so, I am inspired to do my best, so I would like to continue working hard together.

I think this is my sister's first step on the senior stage, and I think she'll probably become a regular, so I hope we can win together someday. I think that is the goal of the siblings.

I practiced with her a little bit this time, and when I watched her play, she was strong and one of the top female players. I think she will be ranked in the top 10 in the world soon, so I hope she can play table tennis the way she likes. If she can do that, I'm sure she'll become even stronger. I would like to continue watching her over as a spectator.

ーーFinally, what is your expectation for the 6th Paris Olympic representative selection trial (November 25th to 26th)?

I think if I make it to the top 4 or better this time, I will be guaranteed 1st place, so I would like to participate well and secure 1st place.