Sweden upset Japan 3-2 in the men's table tennis team semifinals at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, August 7. As a result, Japan will miss out on a chance to contest for the gold medal.
Japan led 2-0 against the Europeans and looked ready to set up a showdown with either longtime rival China or host France but lost the next three games at South Paris Arena 4.
"We all gave it absolutely everything and I don't know if we just ran out of gas," 21-year-old Tomokazu Harimoto said, according to Reuters. "But without a doubt we tried our best and, result aside, I think we played the same way we've been doing for several years now."
Japan will now try to add bronze to the team silver and bronze it won at the last two Summer Games. Up next: Japan against a TBD opponent in the third-place match on Friday (5 PM JST).
Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami gave Japan a 1-0 lead with an 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 win over Anton Kallberg and Kristian Karlsson in the opening doubles tie.
Japan Takes 2-0 Lead in Table Tennis Semifinals
Harimoto then put Japan up 2-0 with a 13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10 win over Paris singles silver medalist Truls Moregard.
Togami then had a chance to clinch a sweep for Japan, but Karlsson proved to be a tough opponent.
After losing the first game 11-7, the world No 61 Swede took the next two (11-9, 11-9) before winning the final game 11-5 to put his team back in the contest.
Moregard then faced Shinozuka and battled to a 11-5, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10 win to extend the tie to the decisive final match.
Kallberg Rallies Past Harimoto in Decisive Table Tennis Match
Japanese ace Harimoto reeled off five straight points in both the first two games on his way to a pair of 11-5, 11-5 wins against 24th-ranked Kallberg. The Swede came back with a pair of 11-7 games to force the decider.
Once again, Harimoto went ahead early, taking a 6-3 lead but he allowed Kallberg to level the score at 9-9.
Kallberg then secured the dramatic comeback win and a spot in the final after Harimoto mishit on match point.
"After two perfect games, I couldn't execute my tactics to the end," a disconsolate Harimoto said after the loss, according to Nikkan Sports. "I really don't have any strength left but I just have to keep going."
On August 3, Japan collected its first table tennis medal in Paris, with Hina Hayata earning the women's bronze.
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Author: Jim Armstrong
The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.
