Dominant and Unstoppable! Wang Manyu Extends to 10 Straight Wins Over Miwa Harimoto and 38 Consecutive Victories vs Japan’s Women’s Team — Sun Yingsha: “I’m the Underdog in the Final.”

On February 8 (Beijing time), the women’s singles semifinals at the Table Tennis Asian Cup delivered a headline showdown. China’s Wang Manyu defeated Japan’s Miwa Harimoto 4–2 to book her place in the final, where she will face teammate Sun Yingsha—setting up an all-Chinese championship match.

Wang, currently world No. 2, went up against world No. 7 Harimoto, who came in full of confidence. Before the match, Harimoto openly expressed her hope of finally defeating a top-ranked Chinese player, and she backed that ambition with a strong start—taking the first game 11–7.

Wang responded with the composure of a proven mainstay. She quickly adjusted her tactics and tempo, leveling the match with an emphatic 11–3 win in the second game. The third game became the turning point of the contest, with both players trading momentum in a tense rally battle. Wang held her nerve to edge it 14–12.

Harimoto refused to fade, producing another high-quality game to claim the fourth 11–8 and bring the match back to 2–2. With the pressure rising, Wang’s experience and stability began to shine through. She captured the next two games by identical 11–8 scores, closing out the match 4–2 and securing her spot in the final against Sun.

The result also reinforced Wang’s remarkable record against Japanese opposition. She is now a perfect 10–0 in her career against Harimoto, and has extended her winning streak against Japanese players to 38 consecutive victories over the past seven years—an exceptional benchmark that underlines her consistency at the highest level.

With Wang and Sun advancing, Team China has officially locked up both the gold and silver medals in women’s singles at this Asian Cup. Wang is now one win away from successfully defending her title, while Sun stands just one match from claiming the Asian Cup women’s singles crown.

Sun Yingsha has acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting that if she meets Wang in the final, she sees herself as the underdog. In reality, the world No. 1 and world No. 2 are separated by fine margins—making the championship likely to come down to execution, resilience, and performance in the decisive moments.