<figure id="attachment_429767" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-429767" style="width: 2303px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="efaf71a0"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/06/574c56da900e913d50d633821e13ed61.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-429767" class="wp-caption-text">Kihara and Hayata were rivals at the All-Japan Championships two years ago. Friendly rivalry to improve the level of Japanese table tennis.</figcaption></figure>
<h3> Losing in the last 16&#8230;</h3>
<p> 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.</p>
<p> 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. &#8230;&#8230; Table tennis columnist Jota Ito said.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> 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.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I don&#8217;t think there was anything wrong with Hayata, but rather that Kihara, who is in great form, was just slightly better than him.&#8221;</span></p>
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<h3> Looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics in three years</h3>
<p> 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.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> 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.</span></p>
<p> In order to make a further leap forward, the queen will spend some time in hiding.</p>
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<figure id="attachment_429769" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-429769" style="width: 1644px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="40156f0a"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/06/403c3c7f4647fad57111542ccdbca2f7.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-429769" class="wp-caption-text"> Her backhand, which she had been shutting down due to her injury, is hitting with ease. She is in good condition.</figcaption></figure>
<p> From the July 11, 2025 issue of FRIDAY</p>


 Courtesy of WTT

 At the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2025, Hina Hayata, the favorite to win the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2025, lost in straight sets to Mihyu Kihara, a junior player, and was eliminated in the last 16. Some are concerned that she is in a slump...?

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

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