Hina Hayata lost to Miyu Kihara in straight sets…but now it’s time for her to lay low!

Losing in the last 16…

It was an unexpected result. At the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2025 (June 17-22), Hina Hayata (24, ranked 9th in the world), the favorite to win the tournament, lost in straight sets to Mihisa Kihara (20, ranked 22nd in the world) and was eliminated in the last 16.

Hayata also finished in the last eight at the World Table Tennis Championships held in Doha, Qatar, from May 17 to 25, and there are concerns about the effects of her injury and her slump. …… Table tennis columnist Jota Ito said.

The game count in the match against Kihara was 3-0, which looks like a big difference, but it was a close match. Also, he was playing with a full backhand, which he has not used much due to injury, so it does not seem that the pain in his left arm has recurred. Watching him play the game, I could see that he was playing with confidence.

I don’t think there was anything wrong with Hayata, but rather that Kihara, who is in great form, was just slightly better than him.”

Looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics in three years

For Hayata, this tournament is just a tune-up. He is, of course, looking forward to the Los Angeles Olympics to be held in 2008.

Hayata is the type of player who breaks and evolves her own table tennis to become stronger. This will take time, but I think she intends to master a new style of play over the next three years and put her whole life on the line to win the gold medal.

In order to make a further leap forward, the queen will spend some time in hiding.

From the July 11, 2025 issue of FRIDAY