ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open:Japanese teenagers win big in Budapest

Japanese duo Tomokazu Harimoto (aged 16) and Mima Ito (19) won the respective men’s singles and women’s singles titles at the 2020 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open in Budapest on Sunday 23rd February.

Their success came the day after Japan’s Miu Hirano and Kasumi Ishikawa had secured the women’s doubles top prize, Germany’s Benedikt Duda and Patrick Franziska had struck men’s doubles gold, and Hong Kong China’s Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem had emerged the mixed doubles champions.

Harimoto, the top seed, entered the action in Budapest with a point to prove. The previous month at the All Japanese National Championships he had been beaten in the men’s singles final by Yukiya Uda. Furthermore, the last time he had played in Budapest, at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships, he had experienced a shock fourth round defeat.

In determined fashion, debts were settled and gremlins laid to rest; after ending German hopes by beating Benedikt Duda (12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-4) and Dimitrij Ovtcharov, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8), Harimoto then got his revenge over Uda in the final (7-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-6, 11-9) to seal his first international title of 2020.

“I was looking forward to this final to take my revenge after this year’s All Japan Championships. After winning the second game I was in control of the match, my confidence grew point by point and I started to play at a higher level. I am very happy about the title and the fact I was able to elevate my game to a high level in Budapest.” – Tomokazu Harimoto

A fourth ITTF World Tour men’s singles title for Harimoto, this was totally new territory for Uda, whose previous best on the circuit was a second round exit at last year’s Czech Open.

In Budapest he ended European hopes, defeating Austria’s Robert Gardos (11-6, 7-11, 16-18, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7), before overcoming England’s Liam Pitchford, the no.9 seed (11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7) en route to Sunday’s silver medal finish.

While Harimoto got his hands on gold without ever being extended the full seven games distance, it was somewhat different for fellow Japanese star, Mima Ito, top seed in the women’s singles event.

In the final against Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching, the no.3 seed, down 2-3 in games, in the sixth she trailed 2-7 before recovering to win her eighth ITTF World Tour women’s singles title (11-7, 1-11, 11-6, 7-11, 2-11, 11-9, 11-7).

“We have played each other a number of times, so we know each other’s game really well. It is never easy to come up against her. Game six was very important when I changed the direction of play. For the final game I played stronger and I found my rhythm. I am very happy about taking the trophy here in Budapest.” – Mima Ito

Earlier in the event, Ito had been required to break down defensive play; at the quarter-final stage she beat colleague Hitomi Sato, the no.6 seed (9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-1, 11-2), prior to overcoming Germany’s Han Ying, the no.14 seed (11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4).