After seven seasons of perseverance, TT Saitama has finally captured their first T-League championship, defeating Ryukyu Asteeda 3-1 in a dramatic final on March 23. The victory, achieved in front of 2,406 passionate fans at Yoyogi Second Gymnasium, marks a turning point for a team that has long struggled to reach the top.
The final started with a tense doubles match, where Ryukyu Asteeda’s pairing of Yoshimura and Cho took the first game, but ultimately fell 1-2 to Kobayashi and Arinobu, giving Saitama an early lead. Tomokazu Harimoto then stepped up in a five-game thriller against Sho Sone, securing a crucial 3-2 win and extending Saitama’s advantage to 2-0.
Ryukyu fought back in the third match, where Maharu Yoshimura looked to keep his team’s hopes alive. However, he was outplayed by a determined Taimu Arinobu, who delivered a commanding 3-1 victory. With that win, Saitama moved to the brink of their first-ever title.
The decisive match between Yukiya Uda and Hiroto Shinozuka turned into a dramatic five-game battle. Uda took the opening game, but Shinozuka showed resilience to push the match to a deciding fifth game. With the championship on the line, Uda held his nerve, finishing with a decisive chiquita to clinch the victory and secure Saitama’s long-awaited title.
Match Results:
🏓 Doubles: Yoshimura/Cho vs. Kobayashi/Arinobu – 1:2
🏓 Singles: Tomokazu Harimoto vs. Sho Sone – 3:2
🏓 Singles: Maharu Yoshimura vs. Taimu Arinobu – 1:3
🏓 Singles: Hiroto Shinozuka vs. Yukiya Uda – 2:3
With this triumph, TT Saitama has finally claimed its place among Japan’s table tennis elite. Now, the challenge will be to defend their crown and build on this historic success.