By Nick Butler

Jun Mizutani of Japan celebrates men's singles gold at the World Tour Grand Finals ©ITTFJapan enjoyed a golden day at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour Grand Finals in Bangkok as Jun Mizutani and Kasumi Ishikawa secured male and female singles honours.


The duo duly took a share of a lucrative prize pot of $1,000,000 (£640,000/€800,000) in front of a capacity crowd in the Thai capital after a tournament which, in the absence of leading Chinese players, was notable for the sheer number of countries challenging for medals. 

Mizutani, world number five and the highest ranked non-Chinese player in the world, was up against Germany's seventh ranked Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the men's final in a contest which lived up to its billing in every way. 

After the Japanese left-handed player narrowly took the first two games, the German fought back, and won a nail-biting sixth 14-12 to ensure a decider, only for his opponent to eventually edge home 11-6 for a 4-3 win. 

"The first two games were very close, I was totally focused", said the 25-year-old champion, who had his first child earlier this year.

"Losing the sixth game after taking the 'Time Out', was a blow, it was very difficult to recover mentally.

"It's always close between Dimitrij and myself.

"I won the title four years ago in Seoul but I think winning him has been a greater achievement; also it's much more money!"

The men's final was far closer than the women's decider earlier in the day as Kasumi Ishikawa won the biggest title of her career so far, overpowering Seo Hyowon of South Korea for a 4-0 victory. 

Kasumi Ishikawa was too strong for her opponent in the women's singles final ©ITTFKasumi Ishikawa was too strong for her opponent in the women's singles final ©ITTF



"I am so happy to win this big and prestigious title, I can't believe I won," the beaming Japanese player said afterwards.

"I came into the event with no expectations, which took the pressure off me, I am going to spend my big cheque on a nice long holiday to a tropical beach somewhere."

It was a golden competition for Japan, after 14-year-old pair Miu Hirano and Mima Ito secured a shock women's doubles victory yesterday, while Asuka Machi took men's under 21 honours.

South Korea gained some consolation as Cho Eon-rae and Seo Hyun-deok won the men's doubles, while Chen Szu-Yu of Taiwan became women's under 21 champion.

With the 2014 season now ending, the next test will come early next year with the World Team Cup in Dubai from January 8 to 11. 

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