FULL MATCH | Wang Chuqin vs Tomokazu Harimoto | FINAL | 2026 Asian Cup

Wong versus Harimoto. First game. Harimoto to serve. Love-all. So it is for Harimoto who will serve. One-all. And for Harimoto, they're just making sure that he doesn't give on anything. There's too much space to play those arms, especially at this point. It's one-all now. One-two. A little play that we're looking at. Just a change of ball here. And that is last to be serviced there from Wong Foo Ching. It's now two-all. So Harimoto takes a three-point lead. Remember, these two have played a lot alongside each other. And you give Foo Ching the chance to just use that forehand and he is going to, well, let it fly. And he excels at that part. That angle, rough attack, really his favorite. And it's something that Harimoto does understand as well. Wong Foo Ching trying to level it out. Whole service. It's now four-all. And Harimoto will claim the point. Well, to just bend back and, you know, cover those little replies. But this time, Wong Foo Ching just holding his own. It's now five-all. And Wong Hao in Wong Foo Ching's corner, while former world Japanese star Seiya Kishikawa in Harimoto's. Oh, that's Kishikawa reply. Absolutely clear. And Harimoto, they're looking to match, well, the world number one. That is a phenomenal return. And well played. Keep in mind the fact that Doty's lad have an aggressive style of play. Harimoto has changed this to a more defensive style. But his opponent is known to be one of the most aggressive attackers of all time. Just got that massive, massive forehand. Wong Foo Ching does well here. That backhand, they're just getting Wong Foo Ching down. And Harimoto will be glad to claim that. Just looking for that finish. He wasn't going to leave that unturned. And that's what he's really, really well known for, isn't it? When we always talk about it. Wong Foo Ching, the third world attacker, will never see one of the strong points, you know, in his arsenal of table tennis weapons. Without a chance for an option for a reply. It's now 8-9. Oh, the world number one, just dominating that. You don't want to give him that angle. And I think Harimoto understands that, but he'll draw one back too. It's now 9-0. It's one thing that Doty's lads understand. There's pride at stake. That's Asian pride. So that's well played. Harimoto does well. It's now 9-10 game point, but Wong Foo Ching still has to serve. And a chance, of course, to push this and to deuce. It's been very similar, the meteoric rise of these two young lads, you know, into the top 10 and the consistency to stay there. Another one has come down, so Harimoto will claim the first game. So Wong will serve to start off the second game. Harimoto claiming the first. Harimoto claims the first point. Well played there. Well directed, Wong Foo Ching finally regaining control. That's well played. Absolutely well played. We are Tomokazu Harimoto. He's all fired up too. The world number one, couple of things that we never really look up, you know, as we realize about him. Remember when he was 15 years old, he credited most of his his entire inspiration, actually, he said was Ma Long. Putting that beyond, well, a reply. He said that, you know, spent a bit of time, he was in that Olympic team with Ma Long as well. Learned a lot from him. The kick point here for Wong Foo Ching. Got Wang Hao there in his corner. Wang Hao was also a world champion, not mistaken, three world championships in a row. How much? He's a great mentor. The world number one now. Well, staying steady as he leads by three points. 12 years Ma Long's junior when he played alongside him. Harimoto struggling a little bit now, get the trade off the net. It's well, 6-2, Wong to serve. A strong player from the world number one that it hasn't been a bed of roses for him all this time. Remember, he had that really bad injury during the Paris Olympics, if I'm not mistaken. And then he was also, well, you know, penalized for well, slamming his racket once. But he's come really strong back from everything. Then very quick points here for Wong Foo Ching, that seems to be running away with the second game. And Harimoto will have to put on his thinking cap. And a point back for Harimoto. Well, excellent serve there from him. Well, nice comeback too from Harimoto to reply to that earlier. It's now 8-4. Then asked why, you know, what really about Ma Long inspired him and Wong once said his determination and his attitude to the sport are things I would time. He said right from childhood days. Well, you also wouldn't know that in his free time, well, the world number one is actually a pool enthusiast. Loves playing pool and snooker. Spends time alone sometimes and will find a room to play it by himself. Another point here for Harimoto. It's very interesting that, you know, Wong's favorite sportsman is actually besides Ma Long, his seven-time world champion of snooker, Ronnie O'Sullivan. And Ronnie O'Sullivan actually recorded a video to congratulate Wong after his performance at the Olympics, which is very, very interesting. And it looks like the world number one does want to claim this game, wants to make it even. Stevens here, Harimoto to serve. Game point here. Harimoto will gain another point. It's now 10-6. And that, of course, is Seiya Kishikawa. He's represented Japan before. He took over the reins of handling the Japanese team last year. Another point in the bag. It's a lovely return there from the Japanese paddler. Well, still has its foot on the accelerator here, Wong Chu-Ting, in this game. That's another point in. A couple of free points in there. 8-10. The one thing is for certain, this is going to be a battle. Just a few bits of dogs on, you know, Wong Chu-Ting that some of us missed out on. Harimoto to serve. Major. And, you know, when he won at the Olympics, he was coming home and, well, the press asked his dad, what's he going to have? And he said, definitely fried pork and scoop and hot pot. So he's a simple lad away from it. Loves his time by himself as well. To introspect. Harimoto to serve now. That's going to be first point there for the world number one, the club one. All fired up now, Wong Chu-Ting. Well, just changed that angle entirely. And, you know, Harimoto in that first game was just keeping that ball away from that area. But this time, it's had a few loose ones flying in. But that's a fine way to do it. Finally getting it away from his comfort zone for Wong Chu-Ting. Harimoto sends it, well, straight down, changing direction at the right time. That's a lovely finish. Easily trying to flick there. Half easily flying backhand flick. So it's 2-0 in the third game. This time around, Harimoto to serve at 2-3. Well, if you're a fan of Wong Chu-Ting, you should know these two bits. The fans lovingly call him big head, and that's not because of anything else. When he was young, he was asked in a live stream, and he said that, you know, he's got a big, he had a big head as a child. A lot of his friends call him that, and that just stuck. One of the few left-handed table tennis players in Chinese team history. Now needs 4-3. First left-hander from China to qualify for the Olympic men's singles in the 21st century. But we'll tell you a secret about his left hand in just a bit. Wong Chu-Ting. Just hitting it hard, getting control of that. So Harimoto will equalize here. So Wong Chu-Ting, while he's a left-handed, well, stooped-up player, he eats with his left hand. Here's a secret. He writes with his right hand. 5-1. Another point back for Harimoto. That's a late 5-4. Now both these paddlers try and avoid rallies. 6. 5-6. 6-all. Wong Chu-Ting attempting to loop that over. Just a little bit of a problem. I would believe Harimoto had a hook in mind. Get it. 6-all here. Harimoto to serve. 6-all. Harimoto has racked it wrong. 6-7 now. He knows it. Well, had it all going. Well, till that caught the edge. 7-all. Considered one of the most aggressive, powerful paddlers. 7-8. 9-7. 10-7. 11-7. Considered one of his first ITTF Junior event at the age of 12. Considered to be the new king of table tennis and an heir to the throne that's left awakened by Ma Long. A couple of big stars in there as well, like Pan Zhendong and we've got Lin Shidong. But Lin Shidong, of course, fairly newer to the scene. Did claim world number one last year for a bit. That is an absolutely fine forehand and that trademark shot from Wang Chuqing will just create an amazing amount of acceleration with that move. Employs that upper body to the max as well. That's two straight points there as Wang Chuqing holds serve. And this is pretty much well the pattern that we saw in that second game between these two. I don't know whether it's the side. Couple of errors here from Harimoto as he trails about three points. Would have definitely been something in the air for Harimoto with Wang Chuqing. Well, just not allowing his Japanese counterpart any space. He skipped it quick. He skipped it fast. Just closing down the angles. Squeezing the distance. And he's been setting up that ball very nicely for a, well, third ball attack. And that's lethal. And this is that area where you don't want to let him fly free. So five love. Well, coming back a lot stronger in this game after falling well in that third encounter. Absolutely stunning play. Just the display of why deservedly he is the world number one. And Harimoto finally opening with a count. Well, in the fourth game. Well, very subdued celebration there from Wang Chuqing. But he leads 7-1. I do believe Harimoto will try his level best to get back into the action. Wang Chuqing going to drag that across for the first time around. Wang Chuqing actually knocks him up to his favorite position. Quite an event if you ask me. Time for Harimoto to get it back in action. That's what you call another powerful forehand. Harimoto. No, just replying the same way that his opponent would have. Got that space to slam that home. And that's another one-year for Harimoto. So 8-5. And Harimoto can't believe it. Way back on the net. Just failed to climb over. This is where it's been pretty much this pattern in the second game as well. Wang Chuqing, you know, in a familiar position. Two points away from well claiming this game. Harimoto serves at 5. Wang at 9. The both rallies really, really amazing here. And Wang Chuqing well holds his own. It's now 10-5. Well, that's a marvelous finish with the extended forehand. Time to get back to the table. And this, of course, is game number five. Harimoto serves. Wang Chuqing will win this conversation. What a debate this was turning out to be before the world number one just put an end to it. Lovely backhand there. Restretches out to get back to it. And then that return backhand. Absolutely powerful there from Wang Chuqing. Two points ahead. It's been a bit of an off start for Harimoto in this fifth world game. Remember, they stand at two games apiece. Timeout. Because he started off this world game with a dropping serve on both points. Just a cause for concern. A trademark finish from the world champion. You know that when you squat and if you get it right, it's going to be unplayable at that part. There have been a few to return it though. It's got to be a precious point here for Harimoto. Harimoto back in control here. But it's now 2-3. And Wang's got a smile as well. That's the kind of intensity that he drives normally into his forehand. But this time, great acceleration. Absolutely fine finish there. 3-on. And he's just motivating himself soon after that killer move. Goal three. 4-on. 4-5. 6-4. It could change things around a little bit. It could be the game changer in this event. But let's wait and find out. Wang to serve. 7-4. 5-7. 6-7. 7-1. 8-7. Wang Hao definitely always great support for the world number one. Well, even at the time that he was, well, totally upset. And I do remember in the world championships last year, when he did take the exit door from the finale before he got to the finale. What an event it was. 7-9. And Harimoto with just a few errors there. And that's going to be a costly 7-9 now. 8-9. Very, very needed because, well, he just dropped a whole lot of points, you know, at a stretch. 8-9. Wang Hao is the current head coach of the Chinese men's table tennis team. Became the world champion in men's singles in 2009. And that's what he was looking for, needed that block to get out of the way. Game point now for Wang Qi Xing and his coach of course Wang Hao. World cup champion in 2007, 8 and 2010. Ranked number one in the world rankings for 27 consecutive months from October 2007 to December 2009. He was surpassed by Ma Long in January 2010. 2011, he reclaimed his world number one ranking. Known to execute the reverse penhold backhand with exceptional skill. Good game. If Wang Qi Xing wins this, he'll defend his championship successfully or title. If Harimoto wins it, well, we're going to see a change. And Wang has been winning this particular game, which is the second game. Wang Qi Xing knows now that every point he wins is important here. Well, it's come a long way in his change in temperament. 2019, remember he was, well, penalized for slamming a racket when he was, well, upset. And he's really matured, not just as a tennis star and you have to watch him in interviews. He's a very grounded lad. And once again, Wang Qi Xing will claim another point. Well, always seems very cocky on the face of it, but actually he isn't. Very nice lad to talk to. Just a bit reserved, but does share a joke every now and then, especially sometimes with even his opponents that he's friends with. He's definitely working against Harimoto with that ball off the net, but at this stage of the it doesn't really matter. Remember last year, it was an easier ride for Wang Qi Xing when he won. Got the better of Liang Jingkung for love. And Harimoto will fight back. He will fight back. Just a bit of communication there between him and his coach, Teo Kishikawa, along with Jun Mizutani in the men's doubles competitions, four consecutive national titles, 2007-10. He was also a bronze medalist of the 2009 World Championships, two titles at the ITTF Pro Tour and played for a German team, a club. Now that's three-all. Harimoto fighting back as well as he can. Well, amazing athletic skill and this is really in it at its finest. Two amazing stars, both love a pacey power play kind of approach. The distance in the way to go about it and Harimoto dropping a point there. Now three-four. Wang Qi Xing getting that right and Harimoto says, what am I going to do? Was it everything possible? That reply just forceful there from the world number one. Very, very assertive play from the Chinese paddler. Absolutely stunning work being done here. This is really in it at its finest. It's just amazing. Remember, a win for Wang Qi Xing in this game means the title. Harimoto has to win it at all costs to stay and push this into a seven-game decider. Well, the women's final went down to that. Absolutely no way. Wang Qi Xing and that is killer execution there. There's no doubt about it. Oh, that's a fine precision move just beyond play and Harimoto knows it. If you want to toss the ball up and one thing, of course, that the world number one is great at setting up the kill. Wang Qi Xing just smiled. You know, that's actually an appreciation for his opponent's skill. Doesn't show it, but that is because he understands and it's an error from him as well. That expression says it all. Well, the previous game, the previous final between Wang Manyu and Sun Yingshao was a story to write about. This might be it as well. Harimoto pulls level. It's now 6-0. Oh, it's end-to-end action here, but whatever happens, the Japanese startler understands he has to win this game. 7-6 and Harimoto knows that every single error will make a difference. It's 6-8 and the tide is turning here against Japan's finest. Well, he is the top seed in Japan. Number five in the world. 6-8. Thankfully, not turning against him again. Every error will count. It's now 6-9. Wang Qi Xing, well, staying on course to claim it. Harimoto with a backhand-centric game. Well, just struggling a tad bit. His father Zhang Yu, his mother Zhang Ling, became Rin Harimoto, made the move to Japan, and now Tomokazu and his sister Miwa representing the national teams, respective men's and women's national teams in Japan. Pride and joy there of Japan. Absolutely stunning play from Wang Qi Xing though. And Wang Qi Xing, the three-station there for Wang Hao's guidance as he claims the championship and defends his title. And finally, a celebration there as well. I've seen this one a lot this year. And wins the 35th ITTF ATTU Asian Cup right here at the Haiku Ruiyuan River Gymnasium.