On April 23, 2024, Beijing time, media from China and Japan have focused on a rising star, 15-year-old Zhang Benmeihe, who is only 15 years old, has entered the top 10 of the table tennis women's singles world rankings for the first time, ranking eighth. Meanwhile, her older brother Tomokazu Haramoto is ranked ninth in the men's singles rankings. The rise of the Zhang brothers and sisters has added a new luster to the table tennis world, and they stand together on the stage of senior top players, which is eye-catching. The two siblings are often compared to each other to discuss when they will win the World Championship, which has become a hot topic in the table tennis world.
Although Tomokazu made his debut in the top 10 at the age of 15, he won a number of international titles in the same year, including the Japan National Championship and several international opens, beating several of the world's top players. In contrast, although Zhang won the women's singles runner-up at the Japan National Championships earlier this year, she has yet to make a standout performance on the international stage, especially the core players of the Chinese table tennis team.
In the recent World Cup in Macau, Zhang Benmeihe defeated China's Wang Yidi 4-1, which was a big breakthrough in her career. However, she lost 2-4 to Wang Manyu in the semi-finals, showing the huge gap between Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng and Wang Manyu, the core strength of the Chinese table tennis team. In the face of such a strong opponent, Zhang's further improvement is undoubtedly full of challenges.
The siblings' upbringing and technical style are heavily influenced by their father, Zhang Yu, and mother, Zhang Ling, both of whom are veterans of the table tennis world, providing them with a unique perspective and tactical understanding. Their rivalry with the Chinese table tennis team has just begun, marking a long and fierce contest.
While the world rankings bring glory to the players, the real challenge is whether they can break through the big opponents in key matches. Many of the top 10 players in history, such as Ai Fukuhara and Kasumi Ishikawa, have failed to overcome the main force of the Chinese team in major tournaments, which has affected their careers. For Zhang Benmeihe, whether he can break through Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng, and Wang Manyu in the international arena in the next few years will be the focus of attention.