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Harimoto in the Eye of the Storm – Triumph, Controversy, and Historic Tension – BLOG

Yokohama, August 11, 2025 – The Yokohama Buntai arena was electric last Monday when Tomokazu Harimoto, world No. 4, stunned the table tennis community by defeating Chinese world champion Wang Chuqin to win the WTT Champions title.

In a thrilling six-game battle — 11-9, 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-4 — Harimoto claimed a rare victory over a player who had bested him just two weeks prior with a crushing 0-4 result.

“Iâ€m 2-12 against him in my career, so I had to turn defiant… thanks to everyone in Japan,†Harimoto said after the match.
— Kyodo News

It was a moment of redemption — but one that quickly turned into the center of heated debates online.

A Medical Time-Out That Sparked Debate

At 4-2 in the sixth game, Harimoto requested a medical time-out. Curiously, he propped up his left leg on the step while the physiotherapist treated his right knee.

For many Chinese fans, this appeared less like an injury and more like a psychological tactic to disrupt Wangâ€s rhythm. The reaction on Chinese social media was swift and fierce, with some accusing Harimoto of gamesmanship.

The full story and fan reactions are covered in detail by the South China Morning Post.

The Handshake That Went Wrong

Adding fuel to the fire, Harimoto recalled after his quarter-final win over Xiang Peng that Chinese coach Wang Hao offered him only a “quick handshake†before turning away to focus on his own players.

Perhaps it was simply a brief exchange in a high-pressure environment. But in the context of the long-standing Japan–China rivalry in table tennis, it quickly became a trending topic on Weibo.

See the full breakdown on Trending on Weibo.

A Lesson for Players and Fans Alike

For table tennis enthusiasts here in Quebec and across Canada, this episode is a powerful reminder: at the highest level, the sport is as much mental as it is technical.

Harimotoâ€s performance proves he can beat the best in the world. But it also shows how every choice — from a time-out to a handshake — can leave a lasting impression on fans and opponents alike.

Here, we love fierce battles and fair play. And this mix of brilliance and controversy? Well, itâ€s exactly the kind of story that keeps us watching.

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Pakistan vs. England: Jack Leach spins tourists to historic win in first Test on day five

England complete one of the more logic-defying victories in the history of Test cricket as Jack Leach seals a win in the first Test by an innings and 47 runs.

England have sealed an historic first-Test win over Pakistan, prevailing by an innings and 47 runs in Multan on Friday.

The hard work in a logic-defying contest was done in the previous four days, Ollie Pope‘s side responding to Pakistan’s 556 with a monumental reply of 823-7.

Although England held a 267-run lead, the flat pitch initially left a draw as the most likely outcome until the tourists ripped through the Pakistan top order during the final two-and-a-half hours on Thursday.

Resuming on 152-6, and with Abrar Ahmed absent through illness, Pakistan were left with the steepest of uphill tasks to bat out the day, and they showed resilience through Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal during the first hour of the final day.

However, once Jack Leach had removed Agha for 63, the writing was on the wall, and the veteran spin bowler would soon dismiss Shaheen Shah Afridi (10) and Naseem Shah (6) to seal a famous win for England and finish with figures of 4-30.

Jamal was left high and dry on 55 not out, the effort of himself and Agha to put together a seventh-wicket stand lasting 24.2 overs – the exact amount of time it took for England to take their first six wickets – the only positive that can be taken since they ended their first innings.

What did Pope have to say?

When speaking to BBC Test Match Special after the game, Pope was quick to praise Joe Root and Harry Brook, who scored 262 and 317 respectively as they put together a record-breaking 454-run stand for the fourth wicket.

That effort proved decisive in England becoming the first team to ever concede so many runs and manage to record an innings victory in the history of Test cricket.

Pope said: “Amazing. The way Rooty and Brooky batted was phenomenal. Coming off the field after the first innings we knew 550 was a lot of runs.

“We didn’t know how much [the pitch] was going to break up, but it held together pretty nicely and the boys cashed in. We had to find a way of taking wickets, as captain you have to try to get creative and set different plans.

“That was the main challenge for me trying to find a way of taking 10 wickets and being OK with them getting those runs and keeping your head if someone did get in.”

What next?

The second Test starts on Tuesday at the same ground, England having to make a decision on how to reintegrate captain Ben Stokes should he prove his fitness after a hamstring injury.

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