Pitchford to join top Japanese league

Liam Pitchford says signing up to play in the Japanese T.League was a chance he could not turn down and he believes it will make him a better player.

The England No 1 will join Saitama when the next season gets under way in late August and will lock horns on a regular basis with some of the worldÔÇÖs best players.

The four-team league includes all the leading Japanese players, including world top-10 ranked Tomokazu Harimoto, Koki Niwa and Jun Mizutani, plus several overseas stars.

SaitamaÔÇÖs team this season has included Hong KongÔÇÖs Wong Chun Ting (world No 8), Jeoung Youngsik (KOR, 22), Maharu Yoshimura (JPN, 26) and Tiago Apolonia (POR, 40).

Pitchford, who has been playing for Hennebont in the French League this season, was first approached late last year.

He said: ÔÇťAt the time I had a few offers from clubs in Europe. Saitama gave me a very good offer and I weighed everything up and decided itÔÇÖs a very good opportunity for me. IÔÇÖm looking forward to it.

ÔÇťEvery match will be tough, and thatÔÇÖs what I need before the Olympics. I think itÔÇÖs really going to help my development. I couldnÔÇÖt turn this opportunity down.ÔÇŁ