Interview | I fought with the mindset of giving it my all in each match, says Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto

Honoka Hashimoto impresses at WTT Star Contender Chennai with defensive skills, reaching women's singles final.

Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto was a revelation in the WTT Star Contender Chennai held at the Nehru Stadium here recently. World ranked 30, Hashimoto put up a masterclass in defensive play by reaching the women’s singles final, losing to Miwa Harimoto of Japan, seeded two.  

Unheralded, Hashimoto had earlier shocked the top seed and country-mate Hina Hayata in the round of 16. And in the women’s summit clash against Harimoto, Hashimoto troubled her higher-ranked opponent no end, chopping and cutting with elan. Hashimoto might have lost the final but she won the hearts of those present at the Stadium. 

In the interview to The Hindu, the 26-year-old Japanese spoke about the difficulties of being a defensive player at a time when most players are becoming attack-oriented, about her inspirations, and how difficult it is to break into the Japan women’s National team, among other things.