Kanak Jha’s Semifinal Journey at WTT Champions Yokohama 2025

Published on 12 August 2025 2 minutes 2 minutes

American table tennis star Kanak Jha made epic performance at the WTT Champions Yokohama 2025, advancing to the semifinals for the first time in a WTT Champions event. His journey has been hailed as a major milestone for U.S.A. table tennis.

The Road to the Semifinals: WTT Champions Yokohama 2025

Jha showcased exceptional skill and composure throughout the tournament:

First Round: Defeated Simon Gauzy of France with a 3-1 victory.
Second Round: Defeated Kao-Chung-Jui of Taiwan with a 3-1 victory
Quaterfinals: Defeated Dang Qiu in a high-intensity match, displaying his trademark aggressive forehand loops and precise placement. Kanak mostly dominated with a 4-1 victory
Semifinals: Faced in form Tomokazu Harimoto, despite a spirited effort, Jha lost 4–1, but Kanak’s performance earned admiration globally. Harimoto ultimately won the event.

Semifinals WTT 🇯🇵 Blessed to feel the love from so many people 🍀 1.5 Years ago I made a restart in my career. Today I stood among the top 4 in WTT Champions. Proud to bring USA to new heights 🏓 Let’s go further 🇺🇸 Kanak on Instagram

Significance

First American male player to reach the semifinals of a WTT Champions event.
Demonstrates the growth of U.S. table tennis on the global stage.
Inspires young athletes in the United States to pursue international competition.

Kanak continue elevating American table tennis internationally.