The future looks bright for the emerging stars of Table Tennis, who will be playing some of the biggest competitions in the next 12 months. We’ve selected a few players who are ones to watch in the next year – they are on a mission to unseat world no.1 Fan Zhendong and Olympic gold medallist Ma Long.
Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan)
Current world #4, Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, is one of the most competitive athletes viewed in any sport. The Japanese star has defied the odds and forced the world to take notice since becoming the youngest ever World Tour winner at the age of 14, at the 2017 Czech Open, and the youngest World Tour Grand Finals champion aged 15. Born to former table tennis professionals, Tomokazu started playing at the age of two and by 12, beating players several years his senior, his talents were were show-stopping from then. Part of the new generation of stars in Japan, Tomokazu is quickly becoming the focal point of attention every time he takes to the table. Wearing his emotions on his sleeve, he wows audiences with his incredible ability and hunger for victory.
Lin Yun-Ju (Tapei)
Winning his first World Tour singles title aged just 18, the left-handed 20-year old sensation from Chinese Taipei, is known by his fans as “The Silent Assassin”. Lin Yun-Ju, the young superstar, plays with a blend of extreme calmness and ferocious tenacity, and rose to prominence in 2019 with a bronze medal at his first Men’s World Cup event. Lin has endeared himself to fans across the globe with his quiet and somewhat shy personality but this warrior has taken down some of the biggest names in the game, to now be ranked no. 5 in the world.
Wang Chuqin (China)
Earmarked as one of China’s brightest young stars, world #15, Wang Chuqin, is quickly gaining attention for his penetrating precision style, on the international stage. His gold medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games caused the world to sit up and notice of his talent and left his mark on the senior stage winning the men’s doubles title with the G.O.A.T Ma Long, on his World Championships debut in 2019. Surrounded by the world’s best and a deep list of elites, the pressure is on this 21-year to live up to his early signs of talent and promises, but the signs are very promising to rise to the top.
Truls Moregard (Sweden)
19-year old Swede, Truls Moregard, was out of the game from end of 2020 with injury and in August 2021 came back to his first event at WTT Budapest. The gutsy and skilful Swede won the event continuing his winning ways from 2020 which saw him build a name for himself with his relentless attack and unwavering defence. Winning in Budapest, Moregard became the second youngest player (behind Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto) to win a men’s singles event at WTT Series tournament. Although he currently sits at #77 in the world rankings, this teen is on the rise!