Japan lost 3-2 to Sweden in the men's table tennis team semifinal of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, missing out on a chance to play in the final against China or hosts France.
Japan had a 2-0 lead against the European powerhouses after beating Australia 3-0 and Taiwan 3-1 in the previous two rounds but lost their next three games in back-and-forth matches at the South Paris Arena.
Japan will have a chance to add a bronze medal to the silver and bronze medals they have won in the past two Summer Olympics.
Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto reacts after his team lost to Sweden in the men's table tennis team semifinal at the Paris Olympics at the South Paris Arena in the French capital on August 7, 2024. (Kyodo)
Japanese pair Shinozuka Hiroto and Togami Shunsuke got off to a slow start in the opening round, losing the first game 11-8 to Anton Kalberg and Christian Karlsson, but rallied to win the next three games 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 to give their team the advantage.
Tomokazu Harimoto next faced Paris singles silver medalist Truls Molegaard. The Japanese world number 9 lost in the second match against Taiwan in their last match, but this time he did not repeat the defeat, beating the 10th-ranked Molegaard 13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10.
This gave Togami, ranked 16th in the world, the chance to win it all for Japan, but Karlsson had other ideas.
After losing the first game 11-7, the Swede, ranked 61st in the world, took the next two 11-9 before easily winning the third 11-5 to bring his country back into the match.
Japan's Shunsuke Togami (top) and Otona Shinozuka react after their victory over Sweden in the men's team semifinal of the Paris Olympic table tennis tournament at the South Paris Arena in Paris, France, on August 7, 2024. (Kyodo)
“I contributed to the team in doubles, but in singles I was the one who permanently crushed the team's momentum,” Togami said. “I couldn't be more frustrated.”
Morgaard was making his second appearance in the fourth match and, although world number 42 Shinozuka had some good moments, the Swede won 11-5, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10 to take the match to a deciding match.
Harimoto won five consecutive points in the first two games to win 11-5 against Kalberg, ranked 24th in the world, who then rallied to win two games, 11-7, to reach the deciding match.
“When I was down 2-0 in our last game, I just felt like tonight shouldn't end like that,” Kalberg said. “I just tried to do everything I could, keep believing, keep fighting, and I did.”
Harimoto led 6-3 before losing the lead at 9-9 after which Kalberg had match point but Harimoto mis-hit the ball, giving Sweden a ticket to the final.
“We were able to impress the fans who came,” said Japan men's team coach Kunihito Tanari. “I think it was a great game. Of course, I think Harimoto is disappointed, but he has nothing to be ashamed of.”
“The important thing is to make use of this experience.”
Japan's Shunsuke Togami will face Sweden in the semifinals of the men's table tennis team at the Paris Olympics at the South Paris Arena in the French capital of Paris on August 7, 2024. (Kyodo)
Japan's Taito Shinozuka will face Sweden in the semifinals of the men's table tennis team at the Paris Olympics at the South Paris Arena in the French capital of Paris on August 7, 2024. (Kyodo News)
Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto (looking at the camera) faces Sweden's Anton Kalberg in the fifth match of the men's team semifinals of the Paris Olympics table tennis tournament at the South Paris Arena in the French capital on August 7, 2024. (Kyodo)
Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan collapses to the floor after losing to Sweden during the men's team semi-finals of the Paris Olympics table tennis tournament at the South Paris Arena in Paris, France, on August 7, 2024. (Kyodo News)
Related articles:
Olympics: Japan's Hayata Hina wins bronze medal in women's table tennis singles
Olympics: Japan's Harimoto and Hayata eliminated in table tennis mixed doubles
