Miwa Harimoto wins European Smash women's doubles title

Japanese table tennis player Miwa Harimoto and partner Hina Hayata secured the women's doubles title at the European Smash in Malmö, Sweden. The victory comes as Harimoto continues her rise in the sport, having recently reached a career-high world ranking of 3rd after defeating top-ranked Chinese players.

In a recent interview with former national representative Kasumi Ishikawa, Harimoto discussed her mental growth and the influence of her brother, Tomokazu Harimoto. She noted that overcoming the psychological barrier of facing superior opponents has been her most significant development. Harimoto also highlighted the rigorous training regimen and linguistic studies, including English and Chinese, that have supported her technical evolution.

Despite the Japanese victory, Chinese media outlets have remained composed regarding the tournament results. Reports suggest that the absence of top Chinese pairings, such as Wang Manyu and Kuai Man, was due to fatigue and lack of preparation time rather than a decline in skill, as they prepare for the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya.