Harimoto, the 16-year-old rising star and winner of the World Tour Grand Finals in 2018, swept aside Slovakian Wang Yang 11-6, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 in 26 minutes at Budapest Olympic Hall.

The Japanese player is now set to face Sathiyan Gnanasekaran of India, who recorded an 11-6, 11-6, 11-9, 11-2 win over Iran's Noshad Alamiyan, in the last 16 of this ITTF World Tour event tomorrow.

Brazilian second seed Hugo Calderano was made to work much harder for his place in the next round as he battled to a seven-game victory against Lam Siu Hang of Hong Kong.

Calderano looked to be cruising to a comfortable win when he took the opening two games, but lost the next three before recovering to seal an 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-5 triumph.

Kristian Karlsson of Sweden awaits for Calderano in the round of 16.

In the women's singles event, Ito despatched Ni Xia Lian of Luxembourg 12-10, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 to progress to the second knockout phase.

Ito, winner of an Olympic bronze medal at Rio 2016 at the age of 15, will go up against Margaryta Pesotska of Ukraine, an 11-7, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 winner over Thailand's Jinnipa Sawettabut.

Japan's Miu Hirano, the fourth seed, was among the other winners as she beat Portugal's Yu Fu 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 4-11, 12-10, 11-8.

The ITTF World Tour event is due to to continue tomorrow.