Following the World Table Tennis Championships, the International Table Tennis Federation updated the world rankings, with both Tomokazu Harimoto and Miwa Harimoto rising to No. 3. The siblings expressed their delight but made it clear that this is not their ultimate goal.
During the championships, both the Japanese men’s and women’s teams reached the finals but lost to China, finishing as runners-up. Tomokazu and Miwa Harimoto were both dissatisfied with the outcome, as they had repeatedly stated their aim to help Japan claim the title.
At a press conference the day after the finals, Tomokazu Harimoto said, “It’s regrettable that we didn’t win the gold medal, but I’m grateful we still came away with a medal. Experiencing the disappointment on the court is also part of growth.” Miwa Harimoto echoed similar sentiments: “I’m sad I didn’t win gold, but I’m happy to have shared a medal with my brother.”
After both reached world No. 3 simultaneously, the Harimoto siblings have been hailed as the strongest brother-sister duo in table tennis. Miwa commented, “I’m very happy to be ranked No. 3 alongside my brother. However, both of us aim for No. 1 and won’t stop here.” Tomokazu added firmly, “Reaching the top three is no easy feat, and achieving it together is something I find heartening. But as my sister said, we hope to one day become world No. 1 together.”
Tomokazu also invited his sister to watch a baseball game, saying, “I’m going to watch a baseball game. Do you want to come with me?”