Hina Hayata: “Right now, it’s almost like ‘Season 2’—I’ve been reborn, and I’m in the stage of getting stronger again from the ground up” (Part 2)

She captured a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. However, Hina Hayata will now be aiming for an even more brilliant gold medal. The closer she gets to the top of the world, the more China's Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu stand in her way. What should she do to ease the pain in her left arm and overcome China? <March 2026>

PHOTO Manabu Nakagawa

Because of all the experience I’ve built up so far, I can also see what’s needed. If those pieces fit together well, I can get closer to the goal of winning gold in Los Angeles

●─In international tournaments since December 2025, especially at the WTT Singapore Smash in February 2026, you’ve also been getting results, including a win over Kuai Man. Does that mean the reforms since December are showing effects early on?

Hina Hayata (hereafter Hayata)　Yes, that’s right. But to be honest, I thought it might take a little more time.

　What made a big difference was the change after the All Japan Championships in January. When I went to the hospital about my wrist, the conversation came up that maybe I could remove the taping now. Up until then, I had thought I might have to keep playing with taping all the way until I retired from competition.

　But when I was examined after the All Japan Championships, I was told that my condition had gotten strong enough that I could take it off, and that was a big thing for me too.

　Originally, I was wrapping tape to prevent a recurrence, but looking back, it really was limiting me in so many ways.

　Even with just Service, there were quite a lot of restrictions. Right before the Singapore Smash, I tried playing once in the T League after removing all the taping, and there were no problems. From there, in Singapore, I started playing with it completely off.

　Once I took it off, I gradually felt my touch improving. People around me often praise my Forehand, but in my own mind, I think my Backhand is also a major weapon. Being able to move the Bat freely with that Backhand made me feel, “I can compete like this.”

　Of course, that doesn’t mean the results came immediately, but the range of my techniques and tactics has definitely expanded, and right now I’m in the process of widening that range even further.