AICHI-NAGOYA, Japan — Japan is turning to one of its brightest young table-tennis stars as the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games begin, with Miwa Harimoto entering the competition in impressive form and carrying major responsibilities across four events.
The 18-year-old has been selected for Japan’s 10-player table-tennis squad and is scheduled to compete in women’s singles, women’s doubles, women’s team and mixed doubles. The Japanese Olympic Committee lists her as a silver medalist from the Paris 2024 women’s team event and a former Asian Games team silver and doubles bronze medalist from Hangzhou.
Her current form makes her one of the key names to watch when the table-tennis competition gets underway.
Harimoto enters the Games ranked No. 3
Harimoto is currently No. 3 in the ITTF women’s world rankings, according to Japan’s T League player profile, which also records several major results from 2026.
Her season has included a particularly strong performance at the 2026 All-Japan Championships, where she won four titles: women’s singles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles and junior women’s singles.
She subsequently captured the women’s singles title at WTT Champions Chongqing, adding another major achievement to a rapidly growing résumé.
Those results have put Harimoto firmly among the leading players in Japan’s current generation.
A breakthrough victory against China
One of Harimoto’s most significant recent performances came at the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London.
In Japan’s women’s final against China, Harimoto defeated Wang Manyu, recovering from 2-0 down to win the deciding game 11-4.
It was particularly notable because the victory came after Harimoto had lost her previous 11 meetings with Wang, according to the ITTF. China ultimately won the final, but Harimoto’s performance demonstrated her ability to challenge one of the world’s strongest players on a major stage.
That experience could prove valuable in Aichi-Nagoya, where Japan faces another demanding field.
Japan faces China’s formidable challenge
China remains the dominant force in Asian Games table tennis.
Reuters reported that China’s 10-member squad includes Olympic champions Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu and Wang Chuqin, alongside seven debutants. The Chinese team has won every Asian Games table-tennis gold medal since the sport’s introduction in 1978, including a sweep of the gold medals at the 2010 and 2018 Games.
China’s women’s squad therefore provides a major test for Japan, but the Japanese team has plenty of experience of competing against the world’s leading players.
Japan’s women’s lineup includes Hina Hayata, Mima Ito, Miyu Nagasaki and Rin Mende, alongside Harimoto.
Harimoto’s four-event schedule adds another challenge
Harimoto’s workload will extend beyond singles.
She is scheduled to participate in all four available women’s and mixed-doubles categories assigned to her: singles, women’s doubles, women’s team and mixed doubles.
That makes her an important part of Japan’s medal campaign while also requiring her to manage a demanding competition schedule.
Japan will be hoping its combination of established stars and younger players can produce a strong challenge to China’s long-standing dominance.
A new generation takes center stage
Harimoto’s rise is also part of a generational story for Japanese table tennis.
At only 18, she already has an Olympic team silver medal, Asian Games medals and major WTT titles. Her 2026 results have further established her as one of Japan’s leading players.
Now, competing at an Asian Games hosted in her home country, Harimoto has another opportunity to test herself against the continent’s strongest players.
The table-tennis events begin with team competition at Sky Hall Toyota, with the Asian Games running from September 19 through October 4 across Aichi and Nagoya.
For Harimoto, the challenge is bigger than simply adding another medal to her collection.
Japan is looking to make an impact on home soil — and one of its youngest stars will be at the center of that effort.
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