Hayata Hina

The glory engraved at the Paris Olympics and the lingering pain in her left arm as its cost. At the end of despair, Hayata Hina's decision was to part ways with pursuing past ideals. Not a comeback, but a new birth. Delving into the true meaning of the second chapter that Hayata has begun walking.<March 2026>

◆ Hayata Hina
Born July 7, 2000, from Fukuoka Prefecture. Started playing table tennis at Ishida Table Tennis Club at age 4, runner-up in the All Japan Championships Hope category 12 years ago. Champion in the 13th and 14th All Japan Junior Championships. Winner of the 16th Inter-High. Three consecutive singles titles in the All Japan Championships in 23, 24, and 25. Five consecutive women's doubles titles in 18, 19, 20, 22, and 23. Third place in singles at the 23rd World Championships. Bronze medal in singles and silver medal in team at the 24th Paris Olympics. World ranking 9th (as of March 30). Affiliated with Nippon Life.

Continued to suffer from the gap between ideals and reality

Hayata Hina spent a year struggling on the boundary between light and darkness.

With the prolonged injury to her left wrist, she suffered from the gap between ideals and reality while continuing to walk forward. Even with victories, the sense of discomfort and the feeling of reverting to her past self couldn't be erased.

What did she discard and what did she choose to break through that identity?

The light Hayata found amidst the confusion was the resolve to move forward as a new self, not to return to the past.

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●─How would you describe this past year?

Hayata Hina (hereafter Hayata) It felt like I was continuously walking in darkness. Just when I thought I saw the light, it would disappear again. Even when I tried to grasp that light, it was still out of reach or would appear briefly and vanish. Basically, it felt like I was continuously struggling in such a painful situation.

●─Is the light and darkness related to wins and losses in matches?

Hayata No, if anything, it was more about other aspects. Given the condition of my left arm, there were many things beyond my control, which ultimately affected the outcomes. There were more times when I felt "I want to, but I can't" or "I have to endure for now."

It felt like my senses weren't returning, as if I was in a different world. Even when I tried to bring them back, they wouldn't return, and while being restricted by taping, even when I tried to create something different, the good sensations from before injuring my arm in Paris lingered in my mind. It felt like I was continuously suffering from the gap between ideals and reality.

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