'Ai-chan' off to winning start in table tennis singles

Thursday 21st August, 06:55 AM JST

BEIJING —

Japan’s Ai Fukuhara got off to a winning start in her singles campaign in the Beijing Olympic table tennis competition on Wednesday, cruising past the third round with a five-game victory. Fukuhara, who is ranked 12th in the world and had early round byes, beat Melek Hu of Turkey 11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 to set up a meeting with world No. 1 Zhang Yining of China in the fourth round Thursday. Fukuhara started strongly to take three straight games before her pace slowed and she squandered five consecutive points in losing the fourth. But the popular 19-year-old, the most well-known Japanese athlete in China, quickly regained her rhythm to seal the victory at the Peking University Gymnasium. ‘‘I was able to play in a relaxed manner,’’ Fukuhara said. ‘‘I’ve known her since I was an elementary school student. But I had once defeated her in South Korea so that made me feel a little pressure (to win) today.’’

Japanese compatriot and four-time national champion Sayaka Hirano crashed out at the same stage at the hands of American Gao Jun, who won 14-12, 11-1, 10-12, 11-7, 14-12. Haruna Fukuoka was knocked out by South Korea’s Kim Kyung Ah 11-9, 14-16, 12-10, 12-14, 11-9, 11-7 after beating Nanthana Komwong of Thailand in four games earlier in the day. In the men’s singles, reigning national champion Jun Mizutani advanced to the third round after edging Frenchman Damien Eloi 11-9, 7-11, 15-13, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-1 in his first match at the Beijing Games. ‘‘It was a tough match and I could have been beaten easily,’’ Mizutani said. ‘‘But I didn’t want to go home early and I’ll just test myself against higher-ranked opponents that I’ll face beginning with the next round.’’ Seiya Kishikawa lost to Tan Ruiwu of Croatia 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 in the second round.

Kyodo

Latest 15 of 21 Total Comments Show All

presto345 at 12:20 PM JST - 21st August

I will take Phelps' screams of joy over her continuous little yelps any day of the week.

Yeah. Ought to ask him to add a little growl. That would obliterate Ai's utterances and make it acceptable.
Sarge at 01:43 PM JST - 21st August

"I think she really wins by infuriating her opponents"

I think she really infuriates her opponents by winning! Saaa!
chibaman at 02:31 PM JST - 21st August

Look at this headline from the Asahi

福原、世界ランク１位に敗れる　

This is what I was referring to when a discussion came up about Hoshino Japan, or Yanagisawa Japan. Don't write the foreigner's name, just insert world ranking. I think I'm going to throw up.
Sarge at 02:38 PM JST - 21st August

"Sayonara Ai chan"

Not yet.
chibaman at 02:41 PM JST - 21st August

Not yet.

Is she in another event after the women's singles? Or do you mean we must now go through her tear performance for a while?
Nessie at 03:42 PM JST - 21st August

If only it were a sport...
Peaceful_Man at 04:03 PM JST - 21st August

Ai chan is run by a media machine which pushes her into the limelight so she can get TV commercial endorsements an lots of yen. THere is a gap between the image and the ability. Hirano is much better, but you wouldn't think so by watching the sports news
Sarge at 04:54 PM JST - 21st August

"Is she in another event"

Yeah, she's to face world No.1 Zhang Yining today. Go, Ai-Chan!
presto345 at 05:23 PM JST - 21st August

She lost graciously. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/21/content_9569433.htm
Sarge at 05:25 PM JST - 21st August

Chibaman - Oh. Thanks.

"She lost graciously"

That's my Ai chan"!
chibaman at 05:31 PM JST - 21st August

"I wasn't nervous today. I feel fortunate to play the world's best player and I think I found the trick to playing at the Olympic Games," she said.

That is, not to cry like a four year-old after every loss? The next thing you could learn is how to be more competitive against the higher ranked players. Love you, Ai-chan.
FrEcKlEfAcE at 06:03 PM JST - 21st August

A beating that bad would make anyone gracious in defeat. She didn't play with the same cockiness as she displayed in her previous matches! All fluff & no substance.
Sarge at 06:05 PM JST - 21st August

"A beating that bad"

How bad was it?
chibaman at 06:20 PM JST - 21st August

Little Ai-chan was shown the door in 32 minutes.
FrEcKlEfAcE at 06:22 PM JST - 21st August

How bad? Just as bad as Team USA destroying Cuba today. LOL Joking. It looked like the Japanese ace gets low grades after 4 years of Chinese pingpong lessons.