WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025: Young Stars Oh Jun-sung and Miwa Harimoto Shine

Chennai, March 30 (NationPress) Eighteen-year-old Oh Jun-sung triumphed over French talent Thibault Poret in a gripping seven-game Men’s Singles match, securing his first title at the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025 on Sunday. In the Women’s Singles, 16-year-old Miwa Harimoto, an Olympic medallist from Paris 2024, overcame her fellow countrywoman Honoka Hashimoto with a score of 4-2, marking her first victory at this prestigious level.

Earlier in the day, Manav Thakkar's remarkable journey concluded in the semifinals, leaving him as the only Indian male player to reach the WTT Star Contender Semifinal. Meanwhile, South Korea's Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin clinched the Mixed Doubles title with a straight-games win.

The WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025, presented by IndianOil, was organized by Stupa Sports Analytics and Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) under the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). The event featured a USD 275,000 prize pool and offered 600 ranking points to the champions.

Competing in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, the match between Harimoto and Hashimoto was filled with thrilling long rallies, challenging both players' stamina and precision. The initial games were closely contested, but starting from Game 3, the match intensified due to the Expedite Rule. This rule required quicker and more decisive play, which Harimoto embraced, displaying outstanding agility and strategic skill. Despite her opponent's unwavering efforts, the 16-year-old kept her composure to secure the Women’s Singles title.

Subsequently, the Men’s Singles Final saw Oh and Poret engaged in a breathtaking back-and-forth battle, with the momentum shifting frequently. Each player exhibited remarkable talent and determination, captivating the audience. Oh's comeback from a 2-3 deficit to win the final two games was nothing short of dramatic.

Manav’s outstanding campaign concluded in Session 1, where he faced Thibault Poret in the Men’s Singles Semifinals, suffering a hard-fought 3-1 defeat that awarded him 210 WTT ranking points and USD 4,000 in prize money, a significant milestone for Indian table tennis. Shortly after, Olympic medallists Lim and Shin demonstrated their skill by winning the Mixed Doubles title in straight games against Japan's Maharu Yoshimura and Satsuki Odo, achieving a convincing score of 11-8, 11-5, 11-4.

Spanning six days, the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025 showcased 158 players from around the world, delivering exhilarating matches and unforgettable experiences.

Full Results (Main Draw, Day 4)

Men’s Singles (Semifinals)

Oh Jun-sung (KOR) [12] Vs. Flavien Coton (FRA) 3-0: 11-4, 12-10, 11-7

Thibault Poret (FRA) Vs. Manav Thakkar (IND) 3-1: 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7

(Final, Best of 7)

Oh Jun-sung (KOR) [12] Vs. Thibault Poret (FRA) 4-3: 9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 9-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7

Women’s Singles (Semifinals)

Miwa Harimoto (JPN) [2] Vs. Shin Yu-bin (KOR) [4] 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 12-10

Honoka Hashimoto (JPN) [13] Vs. Kim Nayeong (KOR) 3-0: 11-6, 11-2, 11-2

(Final, Best of 7)

Miwa Harimoto (JPN) [2] Vs. Honoka Hashimoto (JPN) [13] 4-2: 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7

Mixed Doubles (Final)

Lim Jong-hoon (KOR)/Shin Yu-bin (KOR) [2] Vs. Maharu Yoshimura (JPN)/Satsuki Odo (JPN) [Q] 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-4