Ishikawa-Yoshimura Won Gold Medals in WTTC Mix Doubles, Dusseldorf

At the World Tabe Tennis Championships in Dusseldorf, Japan's mixed-doubles pair, Kasumi Ishikawa and Maharu Yoshimura, won Japan a pair of gold medals in mixed doubles for the first time in 48 years since Nobuhiko Hasegawa and Yasuko Imai had won their own at Munchen in 1969.

The pair had had its ups and down on its way to Dusseldorf where, too, they finally came from behind to beat Cheng I-Ching and Chen Chien-an of Taiwan 4-3.

The final match took place on the third day of the event, June 3. The Japanese pair started off very badly and lost the first two games to trail the Taiwanese 0-2. The way they were managing the game, it seemed the game was half over and I, for one, half gave up on Kasumi and Maharu and the chances of Japan's feat in nearly half a century.

Then a drama unfolded itself. The Japanese suddenly woke out of a slumber to shift up the gear to quickly won back the game 3 but closely lost the game 4.

The climax came in the game 5 when Kasumi and Maharu demonstrated the best of the show that day as they trounced the Taiwanese counterparts 10-4. Then the drama progressed in their favor the rest of the way as the Japanese pair brought home five consecutive points trouncing the opponents 11-5 to wrap up the match 4-3.

It was a beautiful example of a come-from-behind victory.

Ishikawa and Yoshimura raised their fists high, hugged and patted on each other's back to express joy. In the press interview that followed right after the game, Kasumi was too overwhelmed to respond to the reporter's opening question and begged Maharu to respond on her behalf. Maharu commented:

"It's so great, I can't express in words. It's just great."(Nathan Shiga) 

Source: NHK