World Table Tennis Champions Frankfurt 2025: Hayata Hina wins all-Japanese women's singles final

Olympic bronze medallist Hayata Hina overcame compatriot Harimoto Miwa 4-3 (11-4, 11-8, 4-11, 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9) in an all-Japanese women’s singles final at the WTT Champions Frankfurt on Sunday (9 November).

The 17-year-old Harimoto was on the back foot from the outset, with Hayata dominating the opening game.

Harimoto roared back into the contest, levelling the scores at 2-2 before she got her nose in front for the first time in the contest.

Hayata fought back to make it 6-6 in the fifth game, but Harimoto would not allow her countrywoman to dictate matters to take the lead.

Momentum swung back in Hayata’s favour as she won the fifth game to re-establish her lead at 3-2.

The 25-year-old Hayata was on the cusp of closing out the match with an 8-5 lead before Harimoto launched her fightback. The Japanese prodigy equalised at 9-9 before winning the game to send the contest into the decider.

Riding high on confidence, Harimoto found a foothold early in the final game, but Hayata would not back down, levelling the scores at 6-6.

The players traded points with the lead changing hands in the latter stages before Hayata established a two-point lead (10-8), which ultimately led to victory.

In the men’s final, the 18-year-old Matsushima Sora broke German hearts when he beat local hero Dang Qui 4-1 (11-8, 15-13, 11-13, 18-16, 11-9).

The rising Japanese star claimed his biggest victory at this level, adding to his WTT Contender Taiyuan win from earlier this year.

At the other end, Dang played out of his skin thanks to the enthusiastic home support. The German trailed by two games before he launched his fightback, winning the third and coming close to forcing the stalemate.

Dang led early in the fourth game and built up a handsome lead before the teenage paddler caught up with the former European champion.

The Japanese player came out on top in the marathon fourth game and came out on top in the closely contested fifth to claim the crown.

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