Tomokazu Harimoto rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat China’s Li Tianyang 3-2 on October 25, 2026, at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, capturing the men’s singles title and marking Japan’s third victory over Chinese opposition across a span of one month.
How Harimoto Overcame a Disaster Start in Tashkent
The final began in a manner that left little room for early optimism. In the opening set, Harimoto dropped an uncharacteristic 1-11 decision, quickly falling behind. He steadied his footing in the second set but still dropped it 9-11, placing him on the brink of elimination down 0-2.
Rather than unraveling, the Japanese star methodically changed the rhythm of the match. He claimed the third set 11-7 and squared the match at two sets apiece by taking the fourth 11-8. In the deciding fifth set, Harimoto maintained his composure to close out the match with an 11-7 scoreline, securing his second Asian men’s singles title following his 2024 victory in Kazakhstan.
The path to the championship required beating a gauntlet of elite opponents. Prior to his final comeback against Li Tianyang, Harimoto dispatched Huang Youzheng 3-0 in the round of 16 and defeated Wen Ruibo 3-0 in the semifinals, completing a sweep of three Chinese competitors en route to the crown.
The Month That Shook the Balance of Power
The triumph in Uzbekistan follows a historic breakthrough exactly one month prior at the 2026 Asian Games, where the Japanese men’s team defeated China 3-2 in the team final to claim their first gold medal in the event since 1966. That victory snapped China’s domination over eight matches in this discipline.
During that team final, Harimoto defeated Wen Ruibo 3-1 before posting a 3-0 sweep over world number one Wang Chuqin in just 22 minutes. Sora Matsushima then secured the gold by defeating Wen Ruibo 3-1 in the decisive match.
Following that team victory, Harimoto remarked that Japan had overcome its inferiority complex against China, stating that the result stemmed from the team’s ability to compete on equal terms rather than anything unusual. That sentiment was reinforced further when Japan also defeated China in the women’s team final at the continental championships, completing a disappointing “triple” of defeats for China against the Japanese in just one month.
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