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Hina HayataJapanese international tennis player
Date of Birth: 07.07.2000
Country:  Japan |
Content:
- Hina Hayata: Japanese Table Tennis Superstar
- International Success and Olympic Debut
- Ups and Downs in 2021
- Continued Success in 2022 and 2023
- Recognition and Awards
Hina Hayata: Japanese Table Tennis Superstar
Early Career and Junior AchievementsHina Hayata emerged as the most successful player in the ITTF Challenge series since its inception in 2017. With her unique physique, she generates remarkable spin with both her forehand and backhand strokes. Coached by Daisuke Ishida, Hayata was an integral member of the Japanese women's team that clinched gold at the 2016 World Junior Table Tennis Championships. She also claimed silver medals in the girls' doubles and mixed doubles events.
International Success and Olympic Debut
Hayata's breakthrough on the world stage came in 2019 when she stunned four-time Women's World Cup champion Liu Shiwen at the ITTF Portugal Open. This triumph was followed by victories over another Chinese player, Hu Limei, and a hard-fought win against compatriot Honoka Hashimoto in the final. In 2020, she etched her name in Japanese table tennis history by winning her first Japan National Table Tennis Championships, defeating defending champion Mima Ito in the semifinals and Kasumi Ishikawa in the final.
Ups and Downs in 2021
At the 2021 Japan National Table Tennis Championships, Hayata narrowly lost to Mima Ito in the semifinals. Nonetheless, she bounced back at the WTT Contender Doha, where she overcame Kasumi Ishikawa and reached the final to face Ito once more. Despite a valiant effort, Hayata fell to Ito in the title match. However, she rebounded at the WTT Star Contender Doha, winning both the women's singles and mixed doubles crowns.
Hayata made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, albeit as a reserve player for Japan's women's team, which went on to secure a silver medal. At the 2021 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in Houston, she competed in all three events. Hayata reached the last 16 of the women's singles, but was defeated by Wang Yidi of China. She and Mima Ito partnered to win the women's doubles silver, and she also claimed silver in the mixed doubles with Tomokazu Harimoto.
Continued Success in 2022 and 2023
In 2022, Hayata advanced to the semifinals of the ATTU Cup before succumbing to Wang Yidi and losing the bronze medal match to India's Manika Batra. In 2023, she achieved a remarkable triple crown at the Japan National Table Tennis Championships, winning the women's singles, women's doubles (with Mima Ito), and mixed doubles (with Tomokazu Harimoto) titles. This made her only the fourth woman in history to achieve this feat at the prestigious tournament.
At the 2023 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in Durban, Hayata again competed in all three events. In the mixed doubles, she and Tomokazu Harimoto reached the final but were defeated by China's Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin. In the women's singles, Hayata advanced to the semifinals, where she lost to world number one Sun Yingsha despite saving nine match points in a thrilling quarterfinal match against Wang Yidi. She also reached the quarterfinals of the women's doubles with Mima Ito.
In addition to her international achievements, Hayata has won numerous titles on the WTT Tour, including the WTT Contender Rio de Janeiro and Muscat in 2023. She also led the Japanese women's team to a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where she secured the only victory against Chinese superstar Sun Yingsha throughout the tournament.
Recognition and Awards
Hina Hayata's remarkable achievements have earned her widespread recognition. She was named the Japanese Table Tennis Association Player of the Year in 2020 and 2023. In 2021, she received the Japan Sports Award from the Prime Minister of Japan.
