The tournament ran from September 7 through September 10, 2026, at the Ehime Prefectural Sports Park, securing regional crowns and direct qualification for the upcoming national championships.
Matsuyama Men Break Five-Year Title Drought
The tournament used a four-school round-robin format for the top division, with each tie consisting of three doubles matches and six singles matches for a total of nine points. Officials noted that final sets utilized a super tiebreak system to manage summer heat conditions.
In that final tie, Matsuyama swept the doubles matches 3-0 and secured two early singles wins to clinch the trophy.
Women Extend Championship Run to Six Consecutive Years
Unlike the men’s format, women’s ties comprise two doubles matches and three singles matches, totaling five points per fixture.
Captains Credit Preparation for National Tournament Qualification
Men’s team captain Koki Wakamatsu, a fourth-year economics major, expressed relief after breaking through in his final collegiate season. “We struggled to close out matches in the past, so I am genuinely happy to overcome that regret in my final year,” Wakamatsu said, pointing to dedicated doubles practice as the catalyst for the victory. “As representatives of the Chugoku-Shikoku region, we aim for a strong finish at the national tournament.”
Women’s team captain Aoi Irida, a second-year law student, credited the squad’s collective preparation. “The results reflect the hard work we put into training,” Irida said. She thanked the male squad members for joint training sessions, alumni for their support, and coaches and family members for their guidance. “We will give our all as regional representatives to advance as far as possible at nationals.”
National Championship Schedule in Ehime
Competition begins on October 20, 2026, returning to the Ehime Prefectural Sports Park where the regional matches were decided.
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