Japan Ends 60-Year Asian Games Gold Drought in Table Tennis, Beats China 3-2

Japan’s men’s table tennis team defeated China 3-2 in the Asian Games final on September 24, securing their first gold medal in the team event since 1966. Tomokazu Harimoto, ranked world No. 4, won two decisive matches including a straight-games victory over world No. 1 Wang Chuqin in just 22 minutes. Nineteen-year-old Sora Matsushima clinched the title by defeating Wen Ruibo 3-1 in the deciding fifth match, ending China’s eight consecutive titles in the event.

How Japan broke through China’s dominance

Japan entered the final as world No. 2, ranked below China at No. 1. Matsushima, world No. 3, lost his opening match to Wang Chuqin 3-2 after a full five games. Harimoto then squared the tie by beating Wen Ruibo 3-1. Lin Shidong restored China’s lead with a 3-1 victory over Shinsuke Togami. The turning point came when Harimoto faced Wang again in the fourth match, winning 3-0 in 22 minutes. Matsushima sealed victory in the fifth match with a 3-1 win over Wen, giving Japan a 3-2 final score.

Harimoto’s dominant performance in team play

Harimoto won both his matches without dropping a set in the decisive fourth match. He defeated world No. 1 Wang Chuqin 3-0, a straight-games victory that shifted momentum decisively toward Japan. Wang acknowledged his psychological struggles after the loss, saying he “ran into some problems” and “didn’t handle well enough” many shots. Harimoto’s performance demonstrated his strength in team formats, a reputation he has built over multiple international competitions.

Matsushima’s breakthrough at 19 years old

Matsushima, ranked world No. 3 at age 19, bounced back from his opening loss to win the decisive fifth match. He defeated Wen Ruibo 3-1 with scores of 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8. After the victory, Matsushima said, “We’re still young. Looking at Japan now and the current Chinese players, I think Japan is stronger, and I think the result today showed that.” His statement reflects confidence that Japan’s younger generation now matches or exceeds China’s depth in the sport.

Japan’s path to the final and what comes next

Japan won all four qualifying matches in straight sets before facing China. The victory avenged Japan’s loss to China in the World Team Championships final in London in May. Two Japanese players from that London final, Harimoto and Togami, competed in the Asian Games. Japan’s women’s team also reached the final but lost 3-0 to China, earning silver. The International Table Tennis Federation noted that Japan can pursue another upset at the ITTF World Team Championships in Fukuoka in 2028.

Final Thoughts

Japan’s 3-2 victory over China marks a generational shift in men’s table tennis. With Harimoto and Matsushima leading a younger squad, Japan has proven it can compete at the highest level on the sport’s biggest stages. The win signals that China’s decades of dominance in team events is no longer assured.

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