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Sports

Japan's Sora Matsushima Emerges as China's Biggest Threat at Table Tennis Worlds

22 Apr 2026 2 min readBy Sports News Global Desk (AI-assisted) youtube.com

The powerful young Japanese left-hander almost toppled Wang Chuqin at last year's World Cup in Macau. Analysts believe the 'pitbull' of table tennis could be the difference-maker as Japan chases a first men's team world title since 1961.

Key Takeaways

  • 1."First time since 2000 that a team would have defeated China." Japan's last men's team world title came in 1961 in Beijing, an era when the country dominated the sport before the rise of the Chinese production line.
  • 2."He's achieved so much in the game," Ash said of Harimoto, adding that the 22-year-old "hasn't quite lived up to his full potential, but that's really saying something" given what he has already won.
  • 3.Japan's Sora Matsushima has been identified by analysts as the player most likely to tip the balance against China at the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships in London.

Japan's Sora Matsushima has been identified by analysts as the player most likely to tip the balance against China at the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships in London. The young left-hander pushed Wang Chuqin all the way in the World Cup final in Macau late last year and now heads into the team event with his stock rising fast.

"Sora Matsushima for me has an X factor about him, which he displayed at the World Cup in Macau where he had a great final against Wang Chuqin," table tennis commentator Ash said in a preview video.

Matsushima's physique has become a talking point on the tour. "He's built like a pitbull. He's got this oversized head and then this muscular body that's like a boxer, and he has this steely determination that says to me he's going to be a serious contender on the world scene in the coming years," Ash said.

He will slot in alongside Tomokazu Harimoto, the long-time face of Japanese table tennis, who has been inside the world's top five for several years. "He's achieved so much in the game," Ash said of Harimoto, adding that the 22-year-old "hasn't quite lived up to his full potential, but that's really saying something" given what he has already won.

The third slot is expected to go to Shunsuke Togami, a top-20 player who would be tasked with beating China's weakened third seed. The trio is a balanced mix of experience and X factor that, on paper, gives Japan genuine odds against the holders.

"I'm going to put my neck on the line and I'm going to say team Japan are going to be our next men's team world champions," Ash predicted. "First time since 2000 that a team would have defeated China."

Japan's last men's team world title came in 1961 in Beijing, an era when the country dominated the sport before the rise of the Chinese production line. Should Matsushima, Harimoto and Togami deliver in London, they would end one of sport's longest droughts.

The championships begin at the ExCeL arena in early May. Japan have been drawn in a favourable half of the bracket and, if form holds, a semi-final showdown with China is on the cards.