Lind, Hashimoto aim to make WTT Contender Lagos history by defending titles

Danish player Anders Lind and Japan's Honoka Hashimoto are on the verge of making WTT Contender Lagos history. Both are one victory away from becoming the first players to successfully defend their men's and women's singles titles in consecutive years.

“

Defending champions Anders Lind of Denmark and Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto are one victory away from becoming the first players to retain the men’s and women’s singles titles, respectively, at the WTT Contender Lagos.

Lind, the 2025 men's singles champion, is competing in Lagos for the third time. He aims to be the first male player to win back-to-back singles titles. His final opponent is South Korea's Oh Junsung, a debutant who reached the final after defeating India's Manush Shah 3-1. Lind secured his spot by narrowly beating Lim Jonghoon of South Korea 3-2 in a close semi-final.

“

Since the WTT Contender Lagos began in 2023, no player has ever defended a title back-to-back, but both players could rewrite history on Sunday (today).

Hashimoto's ambition mirrors Lind's. She won the women's singles title on her debut last year, defeating India's Sreeja Akula. Now, she seeks to be the first woman to achieve consecutive titles. Hashimoto advanced to the final with a dominant 3-0 victory over Cheonhui Joo of South Korea. Her final opponent is her compatriot Satsuki Odo, the tournament's top seed and most experienced player. Odo reached the final by defeating fellow Japanese player Hitomi Sato 3-1.

“

Lind, who lifted the men’s singles crown in 2025 after defeating Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar, returns to Lagos for the third time, and he is on the brink of becoming the first male player in the tournament’s history to claim consecutive singles titles.

The women's final is set to be a strategic battle between Hashimoto's defensive style and Odo's attacking prowess. For Hashimoto, it's a chance to cement her legacy, while Odo aims to prove her dominance.

“

Junsung swept aside India’s Manush Shah with a commanding 3 –1 semi-final win, while Lind had to dig deep, edging Korea Republic’s Lim Jonghoon 3–2 in a thrilling contest to secure his place in the final.