A full-house semifinals with roaring fans and electrifying match. Fans from across the globe have poured in to witness the world’s finest table tennis talents in action, and they’ve been treated to a week packed with exhilarating performances.
The electric buzz in the Infinity Arena at Kitakyushu General Gymnasium has hit fever pitch as WTT Finals Fukuoka 2024 barrels towards its grand finale. It’s been a rollercoaster ride so far, with some big names bowing out early and fresh faces seizing the spotlight. Now, with the singles finals just a day away, the stakes have never been higher.
New Doubles Champions Emerge in Fukuoka!
Women’s Doubles Final
Honoka Hashimoto / Hitomi Sato (JPN/JPN) vs Satsuki Odo / Sakura Yokoi (JPN/JPN)
Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato claimed the women’s doubles crown with a straight-games victory over compatriots Satsuki Odo and Sakura Yokoi 3-0 (11-5, 12-10, 11-8). In front of an electrified home crowd, Hashimoto and Sato delivered a excellent performance to seize the title as Japan’s top doubles pair.
Men’s Doubles Final
Shunsuke Togami / Hiroto Shinozuka (JPN/JPN) vs Alexis Lebrun / Felix Lebrun (FRA/FRA)
The Lebrun brothers, Felix and Alexis, triumphed in a hard-fought men’s doubles final, claiming their second WTT Series title as a pair with a 3-2 victory over Japan’s Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami 4-1 (14-12, 12-14, 6-11, 11-7, 4-11). This win marks a significant achievement for the French duo, who have made a remarkable comeback after a semifinal finish in last season’s WTT Finals in Doha, and they now stand as the champions in Fukuoka.
Day 4 Highlights: Intense battles across semifinal matches
Today’s matches did not disappoint, bringing hard-fought wins laying it all out for tomorrow’s epic final battles.
Women’s Singles Semifinals
Wang Manyu (CHN) vs Bernadette Szocs (ROU)
Wang Manyu proved why she’s one of the most formidable names in table tennis as she fended off a 4-3 (11-6, 11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 7-11, 10-12, 11-4) stunning comeback attempt from Bernadette Szocs to secure her spot in the women’s singles final. In a match filled with intensity and tactical brilliance.
Women’s Singles Semifinals
Chen Xingtong (CHN) vs Wang Yidi (CHN)
Chen Xingtong delivered a commanding performance to defeat Wang Yidi 4-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9), securing her place in the women’s singles final with authority. The No.3 seed Wang Yidi, despite her relentless pursuit of a breakthrough WTT Finals title, was unable to close out critical moments against Chen’s rock-solid play.
Men’s Singles Semifinals
Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN) vs Lin Shidong (CHN)
Tomokazu Harimoto stages stunning comeback to defeat No.2 seed Lin Shidong in a seven-game thriller 4-3 (6-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5, 12-10). Harimoto’s resilience and ability to thrive under pressure earned him a place in the Men’s singles final, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Men’s Singles Semifinals
Wang Chuqin (CHN) vs Darko Jorgic (SLO)
Wang Chuqin demonstrated why he’s the reigning king of table tennis with a commanding 4-1 (11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8) victory over Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic. The defending Men’s singles champion is now just one match away from securing a historic third consecutive WTT Finals title, further solidifying his dominance as the World No.1.
Explosive Day 5 Finale, with the Singles titles on the line.
Men’s Singles Final:
Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN) vs Wang Chuqin (CHN)
Sunday, 24 November 2024 – 16:00 (GMT+9)
Two titans collide in a blockbuster showdown. Local hero Harimoto, fuelled by the roaring support of his home crowd, is chasing his maiden WTT Finals crown after coming so close in 2021 and 2022. Standing in his way is defending champion Wang Chuqin, a relentless force on the table who’s looking to cement his dynasty.
Women’s Singles Final:
Wang Manyu (CHN) vs Chen Xingtong (CHN)
Sunday, 24 November 2024 – 17:00 (GMT+9)
It’s an all-Chinese battle as Wang Manyu, the former world champion, takes on the ever-clinical Chen Xingtong. With both players in to top form, this promises to be a clash of contrasting styles and nerves of steel.
Credit: WTT Press