Miyuu Kihara: the Japanese right-hander who won WTT Astana 2026
Miyuu Kihara is a Japanese table tennis player born in 2004, a right-handed shakehand player. She has team silver at the 2022 and 2024 World Championships, doubles bronze in 2023 and 2025, and won WTT Star Contender Astana in September 2026. Her best ranking is No. 13.
Miyuu Kihara is one of the Japanese players who has climbed most in recent years. She started on tour very young and in 2026 won a singles title again. This page covers the career, titles and style of Miyuu Kihara.
Who is Miyuu Kihara
Miyuu Kihara was born on 3 August 2004 in Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. She is right-handed and plays the shakehand grip.
Miyuu Kihara's titles
| Competition | Results |
|---|---|
| Olympics | No confirmed appearance |
| World Championships | Team silver in 2022 and 2024; doubles bronze in 2023 and 2025 |
| Asian Games | Team silver and doubles bronze in 2022 |
| Asian Championships | Doubles silver in 2024 |
| WTT | Star Contender Muscat 2025 and Star Contender Astana 2026 (singles) |
| Ranking | Career high: No. 13, in July 2022 |
Worlds medals and WTT titles
Kihara won team silver at the 2022 (Chengdu) and 2024 (Busan) Worlds and doubles bronze in 2023 (Durban) and 2025 (Doha). On the WTT circuit she won singles at Star Contender Muscat in 2025 and at Star Contender Astana in September 2026, beating Hitomi Sato 4-3 in the final. In 2026 she also won women's doubles in Almaty, Panagyurishte and Astana with Miu Hirano, and mixed doubles in Skopje with Hiromu Kobayashi. In October 2026 she is world No. 19 in singles. See the table tennis world ranking.
Playing style
Kihara is a right-handed shakehand player. In short:
- Shakehand: a grip that allows attacking from both wings. See shakehand vs penhold.
- Doubles results: bronze at two Worlds and several WTT titles with Miu Hirano.
- Tight finishes: the Astana 2026 final went to a seventh game. More on playing styles.
Recent results on the tour
| Year | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 5 |
| Total | 27 | 5 |
| W | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-20 | Women's singles Final | Sato Hitomi JPN vs Kihara Miyuu JPN 3-4 11-3, 10-12, 11-3, 11-13, 10-12, 11-3, 8-11 |
| L | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-20 | Mixed doubles Final | Kobayashi Hiromu / Kihara Miyuu JPN vs Chen Junsong / Wang Yidi CHN 0-3 9-11, 8-11, 10-12 |
| W | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-20 | Women's singles Semifinals | Kihara Miyuu JPN vs Odo Satsuki JPN 3-2 7-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5 |
| W | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-19 | Women's doubles Final | Hashimoto Honoka / Adriana Diaz JPN/PUR vs Hirano Miu / Kihara Miyuu JPN 1-3 11-8, 10-12, 9-11, 5-11 |
| W | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-19 | Women's singles Quarterfinals | Kihara Miyuu JPN vs Hashimoto Honoka JPN 3-2 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 |
| W | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-19 | Mixed doubles Semifinals | Kobayashi Hiromu / Kihara Miyuu JPN vs Park Ganghyeon / Yoo Siwoo KOR 3-0 11-3, 12-10, 11-6 |
| W | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-19 | Women's singles Round of 16 | Ece Harac TUR vs Kihara Miyuu JPN 0-3 0-11, 9-11, 8-11 |
| W | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-18 | Women's doubles Semifinals | Wang Yidi / Han Feier CHN vs Hirano Miu / Kihara Miyuu JPN 1-3 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 4-11 |
Source: WTT official results. Updated October 31, 2026. worldtabletennis.com
Frequently asked questions
Who is Miyuu Kihara?
She is a Japanese player born in 2004, right-handed, shakehand, and the 2026 WTT Star Contender Astana champion.
Is Miyuu Kihara left-handed?
No. She is right-handed and uses the shakehand grip.
What is Miyuu Kihara's highest ranking?
World No. 13, in July 2022. In October 2026 she is No. 19 in singles.
Does Miyuu Kihara have World Championships medals?
Yes: team silver in 2022 and 2024 and doubles bronze in 2023 and 2025.