Tomokazu Harimoto, Japan’s top men’s singles player, suffered a shocking collapse in the final of the World Table Tennis Championships 2026 London, allowing China to take an early lead in the team event. Harimoto, who raced to a 2-0 lead, lost three consecutive games to his Chinese opponent, handing the first point to the dominant Chinese team.
Harimoto’s defeat put Japan on the back foot immediately in the men’s team final. Despite his strong start, the Chinese player showed remarkable resilience to turn the match around, leaving the Japanese squad in a challenging position.
Following Harimoto’s loss, Jun Mizutani was also defeated, extending China’s advantage. The Japanese men’s team ultimately had to settle for the silver medal, as China completed a comprehensive victory. Earlier in the tournament, Sora Matsushima had also been outplayed, falling to a seeded Chinese opponent despite taking an early lead in his match.
The defeat marked a disappointing end for Japan’s men’s team, who had high hopes of challenging China’s supremacy on home soil. Despite the setback, Harimoto and his teammates demonstrated exceptional skill throughout the championship, earning the silver medal in the 100th anniversary edition of the event held in London.
