In the singles quarterfinals of the 2024 ITTF World Cup, Tomokazu Zhang Benmei and his brother and sister teamed up, showing an amazing level of competition and successfully breaking into the semifinals of the World Cup, setting a record high. Twenty-year-old Tomokazu Zhang and fifteen-year-old Miwa Zhangmoto, as strong opponents of national table tennis, have emerged on the international stage.
Tomokazu Haramoto, who appeared first, won 4-2 in a fierce battle with Carlberg. Despite falling behind 1-2 at one point, he relied on excellent adaptability and tactical adjustments to win three games in a row and complete a spectacular comeback. His next matchup will be the winner between Fan Zhendong and Lin Gaoyuan, heralding a suspenseful Sino-Japanese confrontation. In the previous battles, both Fan Zhendong and Lin Gaoyuan were defeated by Zhang Benzhihe. In the current state, no matter which national table tennis player plays, it indicates a tough competition.
Subsequently, Zhang Benmeihe was not to be outdone, defeating Diaz 4-1 and advancing to the semifinals of the World Cup with his brother. Her next opponent will be the winner between Wang Manyu and Hina Hayata, and this bout is also highly anticipated.
The sports legend of the Zhang family has been confirmed once again in this World Cup. Tomokazu and Miwa Zhang's parents, originally from Sichuan, China, moved to Japan to become table tennis coaches, and their training and guidance laid a solid foundation for the children's success. It is particularly worth mentioning that the off-court guidance that Zhang Benmeihe received in the game mainly came from her father Zhang Benyu.
Looking ahead, Tomokazu Zhang will compete in the men's singles, men's team and mixed doubles events at the Paris Olympics, while Miwa Zhang will compete in the women's team. Both are expected to win medals at the Olympics. Further into the future, after the Paris Olympics, the siblings have the potential to become mixed doubles partners and write a new chapter in the world of table tennis together. Such a performance undoubtedly made their parents Zhang Benyu and Zhang Benling extremely proud.
The outstanding performance of the Zhang brothers and sisters is not only the accumulation of personal honors, but also a subversion of the international table tennis pattern, indicating the strong momentum of the rise of the new generation of players.