Japan’s Miwa Harimoto won her longest final against a relentless Honoka Hashimoto in the 2025 WTT Star Contender Chennai at the Nehru Indoor Stadium on Sunday.
It took Hashimoto nearly 74 minutes to emerge as the champion. She defeated her national compatriot Honoka Hashimoto 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7 in a five-set all-Japan thriller.
Long rallies took over the women’s singles final with Harimoto the attacker in the chops and cuts game.
The umpire was forced to bring the ‘Expedite rule’ in the third game after the long rally went for 17 points.
Harimoto, World No. 6, said: “I had to make the decision by the 13th shot (Expedite rule). So, I was a little impatient at times, but I [knew] I couldn’t win unless I attacked. Happy to win my first Star Contender title.”
Later, in the day, Oh Jun-sung clinched his maiden men’s title by beating France’s Thibault Poret 9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 9-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7 in the summit clash.
India’s charge came to an end with Manav Thakkar losing the semi-finals 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7 against Poret.
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