The second "Tomokazu Zhangmoto" was born, and this 16-year-old Japanese teenager will become another "national table tennis rival"
On February 22, in the quarterfinals of the men's team at the Busan World Table Tennis Championships, the Japanese team lost 0-3 to the Chinese team and missed the semifinals. In the first set with Fan Zhendong, the 16-year-old Japanese teenager Matsushima Teruku dared to fight and performed brilliantly, although he finally lost the game, it is not difficult to see that another "national table tennis rival" is growing.
So far in this World Table Tennis Championships, the first game Fan Zhendong has lost is in the game of Matsushima Huikong. Against the world's No. 1 opponent, Matsushima Teruku was not left behind, and was able to maintain a high-quality hold for multiple rounds, especially the backhand twist and return serve was very threatening, and played the momentum of a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers.
In an interview after the match, Matsushima said that his performance was better than expected, and that being able to play against the world No. 1 also gave him confidence.
At the age of 16, making his debut at the World Championships, Matsushima Teruku is not unknown. Since 2014, he has won the men's singles championship in the age group (toddler, junior and junior group) of the All Japan Table Tennis Championships for five consecutive years, and won the men's singles championship of the East Asian Hope Cup at the age of 13, becoming a potential new star in the Japanese table tennis world, and is also called the second "Tomokazu Zhangmoto" by the Japanese media.
Teruku Matsushima came from a family of table tennis, and his father Takuji Matsushima and mother Yumi Matsushima were both former professional table tennis players, forming the table tennis heritage of the Matsushima family. Teruku Matsushima and his younger brother Shoku Matsushima are the main players of the Japanese national junior team. Before being selected for the national team, both brothers trained at the Tasaka Table Tennis Club owned by their parents.
2023 is the year of the outbreak of Matsushima Terukorn. In the WTT Rio de Janeiro regular challenge, Matsushima Teruku defeated the world champion and German player Ocharov, in the WTT regular challenge Taiyuan station, Matsushima Teruku defeated Zhou Qihao, a key member of the national table tennis team, and in the WTT Doha Stars Tournament, Matsushima Teruku successfully reversed Tomokazu Zhangmoto, becoming a classic battle in his career.
In January 2024, Teruku Matsushima narrowly defeated his opponent in the men's singles final of the All Japan Table Tennis Championships, which also established his status in the Japanese table tennis world. Participating in this World Table Tennis Championships, he gradually got better, and defeated the veteran Zhuang Zhiyuan with his strong offensive ability. Matsushima Terukong was also evaluated by industry insiders as "the clear stream of the Japanese men's left-handed general, not only first-class technology and feel, but also clear-minded, with the potential to form a strong confrontation with national table tennis." ”
Young players in the Japanese table tennis world are emerging in an endless stream, and the speed of replacement is extremely fast. "Young and young" has become the label of Japanese table tennis. In Japan, table tennis is very popular among young people, and the "Star Making Program" of Japanese table tennis creates conditions for young players to grow up, so that they can enter the international arena as early as possible and gain competition experience.
In the women's line, the rise of Miwa Zhangmoto has replaced Misei Ito. The likes of Teruku Matsushima and Miwa Zhang all have the strength to participate in the Olympics, which is enough to arouse the vigilance of competitors. These young players generally have advanced playing skills, often using fast attacks to disrupt the rhythm of their opponents, and it is very advantageous to challenge some traditional veterans on the international stage. The Chinese team must further improve in speed, and only by continuing to suppress the Japanese team in terms of speed can they gain the upper hand.