Read the full story on SportsLook - [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] The T.League Crowns a New Women's Champion
Championship experience and pride were on full display as the Nissay Red Elf squared off against T.League rival Kinoshita Abyell Kanagawa in Japan's women's pro table tennis circuit's championship final on Sunday, March 26.
Nissay brought a four-year title dynasty into the arena, collecting championships in each of the six-team T.League's first four seasons.
But with determination, teamwork and solid all-around play, Kinoshita etched its name on a T.League championship trophy for the first time, defeating Nissay 3-2 at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No 2.
In the title-deciding match, contested after four previous matches, Kinoshita standout Miyuu Kihara topped Mima Ito 11-9.
"We were able to win because we helped each other," Kihara told NHK after the match.
She added, "We've been losing to Nippon Life Insurance Co for the past four years. I think we were able to win because we all discussed tactics and characteristics and helped each other."
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven.
