(by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor)
The youngest ever, Tomokazu Harimoto yet again
On Wednesday 7th December 2016; Tomokazu Harimoto, at 13 years and 163 days old, became the youngest ever player to win the Boys’ Singles title at a World Junior Championships when he succeeded in the Cape Town; last year on Sunday 27th August, in the Czech Republic, he became the youngest ever player to win an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles title. At the time he was only 14 years and 61 days old.

Now has added the list. On Sunday 21st January, at 14 years and 207 days old, he became the youngest ever winner of the Men’s Singles event at the Japanese National Championships.

At the final hurdle, in the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, he beat Jun Mizutani, the nine times former winner, a young man who secured his first such title in 2007 when 17 years old. Tomokazu Harimoto won in six games to write his name into the history books of sport (11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-2, 6-11, 11-5).

A close first game success was undoubtedly a confidence boost but if there is one player in the world who oozes self-belief it is Tomakazu Harimoto. The opening game secured, he built on the success by winning the second, before in the third establishing an 8-5 lead; resolute Jun Mizutani, won the next six points to reduce the arrears to one game.

Would Tomokazu Harimoto experience a reaction from the loss? The answer was positive and immediate, perhaps not one expected. He won the first ten points of the fourth game. Jun Mizutani, to his credit, responded to win the fifth game, before Tomokazu Harimoto secured the sixth to end proceedings.