Table tennis: Harimoto beats world champ Wang to win WTT Champions
World No. 4 Harimoto beat 41st-ranked American Kanak Jha 4-1 in the semifinals before overcoming the second-ranked Wang in the final at Yokohama Buntai, which hosted the third of six events scheduled this year featuring the top 32 men's and women's players.
"It's really unbelievable. I'm 2-12 against him in my career, so I had to turn defiant," Harimoto said. "I lost to him 4-0 two weeks ago as well and was left wondering, but my coaching team provided me with a plan. It's a win thanks to everyone in Japan."
Harimoto made a convincing start against Wang, going toe-to-toe before winning three straight points to claim the first game and staying on top throughout the second and third games to move within one game of the victory.
Wang edged the fourth after Harimoto won three straight points to put the Chinese under pressure at 10-9. Harimoto also came from 8-5 down to take the lead and force deuce, but dropped the fifth before taking a medical time out when 4-2 up in the sixth.
Harimoto kept his momentum after the restart and won three straight points from 8-4 to secure the win.
In the women's final, world No. 3 Chen Xingtong beat top-ranked world champion Sun Yingsha 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5.
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