Tomokazu Harimoto is the New World No. 2 in Table Tennis

Tomokazu Harimoto is a Japanese table tennis player. In 2016, he won the World junior singles and team title at the 2016 World Junior Table Tennis Championships for Japan.

Harimoto first won the All-Japan Table Tennis Championships Juniors title in 2010 as a first grader. He would continue to win the tournament for all six elementary school years.

In 2015, he was chosen to represent Japan at the 2015 World Table Tennis Championships. He also won the Japan Open Boys’ Singles title the same year.

Tomokazu Harimoto – The Wonder Kid

In 2016, Harimoto made history by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the World Junior Table Tennis Championships singles title at 13 years and five months old. He followed this up with a win in the team event, helping Japan to victory over China in the final.

Tomokazu Harimoto has been on a hot streak lately, and it has paid off! With the publication of Week 47 of the ITTF World Table Tennis Rankings, the ‘Wonder Kid’ has found himself at the No. 2 spot globally. This is an incredible feat, considering he was in a slump at the beginning of the year.

What has led to this comeback?

For one, Harimoto won the ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup last week in Thailand. This incredible accomplishment has undoubtedly put him back on the map.

In addition, he has been consistent in his training and dedication to the sport. This discipline has undoubtedly led to his recent string of successes.

We can only speculate what the future holds for Tomokazu Harimoto. But based on his talent and recent accomplishments, it seems safe to say that we will see great things from him in the future.

Junior Career

Harimoto first won the All-Japan Table Tennis Championships Juniors title in 2010 as a first grader. He would continue to win the tournament for all six elementary school years.

In 2015, he was chosen to represent Japan at the 2015 World Table Tennis Championships, where he helped the Japanese team win a bronze medal in the boys’ team event.

The following year, he won gold in both the singles and team events at the 2016 World Junior Table Tennis Championships. These accomplishments made him only the second player after Xu Xin to win both titles in the same year.

ITTF World Tour Titles

In August 2017, Harimoto became the youngest-ever winner of an ITTF World Tour men’s singles title, winning the Czech Open title at 14 years and 61 days.

In December 2018, he became the youngest player to win the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals at 15 years and 172 days.

Other notable results include winning a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Cup and finishing runner-up at the 2018 China Open and 2019 Qatar Open.

Tomokazu Harimoto Equipment

Naturally, he also uses equipment that matches his playing style. Whenever he’s playing competitively, his go-to kit includes the Tomokazu Harimoto Innerforce ALC blade, a well-rounded product with superior spin and control. This particular option is suited to the shake hand grip.

However, there is a similar product for people who hold their paddles differently: the Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ALC – Chinese Penhold.

If you’ve tried any of these options and still felt something missing, our best ping pong paddles or the best ping pong paddles for the penhold grip lists may help you find alternatives.

Tomokazu also uses the Dignic 05 and Tenergy 05 ping pong rubbers on the forehand and backhand, which are popular among elite players.

Are you looking to up your Ping Pong game?

Why not take inspiration from one of the world’s best and check out Tomokazu Harimoto’s equipment?

His Innerforce ALC blade is an excellent option for intermediate to advanced players looking for more spin and control.

And if you’re unsure what grip you prefer, don’t worry – there’s a version for both shakehand and Chinese penhold grips. Give it a try and see how it works for you!

Conclusion

Tomokazu Harimoto has had an incredible past few months, culminating in his career-high ranking of World No. 2. This is a massive accomplishment for the young star, who also happens to be 19.

His dedication to table tennis is paying off, and we can only expect great things from him in the future. Congratulations, Tomokazu Harimoto!

Tomokazu Harimoto is a young table tennis player with a lot of potential. He has made history by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the World Junior Table Tennis Championships singles title at 13 and five months old.

With his skills and tenacity, there’s no telling what he’ll achieve in his career. We’ll be sure to keep an eye on him in the future!