Photos: XU Xin (left) & SUN Yingsha/By Rallys Editorial

Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum LION Japan open was held from June 12th to 16th, with a total of 5 titles, men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mix doubles were held. China took all 5 titles and indicated how hard to take 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games title by defeating China. Surprisingly, XU Xin (China) won all matches he participated and won a triple crown.

Men’s results:

XU Xin (China) claimed his singles title, followed by LIN Yun-Ju (Chinese Taipei) in second place. HARIMOTO Tomokazu (Japan), who is the defending champion, was upset by world number 599 SUN Wen (China) who is the dark horse of the tournament in round of 32. MIZUTANI Jun (Japan) faced LIANG Jingkun (China) at round of 16, a rematch of 2018 World Tour Grand Finals, and this time LIANG Jingkun showed great comeback and cleared his name. JIN Takuya (Japan), who caught the stadium’s spotlight, beat LIU Dingshuo (China) in the preliminary stage and closed with CALDERANO Hugo (Brazil) in the round of 32 despite the lost against CALDERANO Hugo.

XU Xin/ FAN Zhendong (China) became doubles champion and DUDA Benedikt/QIU Dang was the runner-up. TOGAMI Shunsuke/ UDA Yukiya (Japan) closed with CHEN Chien-An/ CHUANG Chih-Yuan (Chinese Taipei) who are 2013 World Championship’s champions but lost a close game ended up at the top8.

Women’s results:

SUN Yingsha (China) claimed her singles title for the first time in 2 years. Runner-up was 2019 World Championship’s Champion LIU Shiwen (China). HIRANO Miu (Japan) was defeated by LIU Shiwen in the semi-finals ended up at the top4. With a great disappointment, ITO Mima (Japan) ,the champion of 2018 Japan open, lost against GU Yuting (China). In the other side, some Japanese players upset Chinese top players. NAGASAKI Miyu (Japan) defeated ZHU Yuling (China) who had been world number1 in the round of 32. SATO Hitomi (Japan) triumphed over Rio de Janeiro Olympic champion DING Ning (China) in the round of 16 and excited the tournament.

LIU Shiwen/ CHEN Meng (China) won the title for women’s doubles, and 2019 World Championship’s champion WANG Manyu/ SUN Yingsha (China) took the second prize. Even though NAGASAKI Miyu/ KIHARA Miyuu (Japan) lost against WANG Manyu/ SUN Yingsha in the semi-finals, they keep stable record.

Mix doubles results:

XU Xin/ ZHU Yuling (China) won the title. Even though the lost in finals, HARIMOTO Tomokazu/HAYATA Hina (Japan) beat FAN Zhendong/ DING Ning (China) secured runner-up. It is really astonishing for HARIMOTO Tomokazu/HAYATA Hina to reach the finals in their second world tour. NIWA Koki/ ITO Mima (Japan) was beaten by LIN Yun-Ju/ CHENG I-Ching (Chinese Taipei) ended up at the top8. Now it remains a huge task about how to beat XU Xin who shows his incomparable strength in doubles game.

Rallys Editorial