Tokyo: Tomokazu Harimoto has become the youngest winner of an ITTF World Tour under-21 event at 12 years of age, moving one step closer to his dream of winning gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Hashimoto easily beat Kohei Sambe, a 18-year-old college student, 11-1, 11-6, 13-11 to triumph at the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation World Tour Laox Japan Open on Friday in Tokyo.
The young Japanese star broke the previous age record of 15, set by compatriot Koki Niwa in 2010, by claiming gold in the under 21 event as he was 12 years and 355 days old. “I was so nervous yesterday when I heard that I would be the youngest winner,” Harimoto said after the final.
