Hina Hayata is on a roll, winning 3 consecutive international tournaments! At the Paris Olympics, she will first go to the top in “Mixed Doubles”!

These two can win the gold medal.

The ace pair of the Japanese table tennis world won the mixed doubles event at the WTT Contender Tunis 2024, which was held until June 30.

Hina Hayata (23) did not compete in the individual competition to avoid an overcrowded schedule, but she and Tomokazu Zhang (21) showed great chemistry in the mixed doubles, winning their third consecutive international tournament this season in the same event. He is ranked No. 3 in the world, which puts him in the medal standings. Hayata’s individual ranking is No. 5, so she actually has a better chance of medaling in the mixed doubles event,” said a member of the Japan Table Tennis Association.

Mixed doubles is a new event that was adopted for the Tokyo Olympics in 2009. The first champions were the Japanese pair of Jun Mizutani (35) and Mima Ito (23).

In fact, just before the Tokyo Olympics, the Mizutani/Ito pair was ranked No. 2 in the world, not No. 1. This time, the pair of Zhang and Hayata is also moving back and forth between No. 2 and No. 3 in the rankings, with only a small gap between them and the top spot. Mixed doubles is probably the event with the best chance of winning a gold medal. Also, the mixed doubles final at the Paris Olympics will be held on July 30, earlier than any other event. A gold medal here would set a good rhythm for the singles and team events that follow. Winning medals in all the events in which we will compete is no longer a dream.

Hayata, who witnessed Ito win a gold medal in the same year as a reserve, is making steady progress toward a medal of the same color.

From the July 19, 2024 issue of FRIDAY