Fukuhara outclassed by world No. 1 Zhang in table tennis

Thursday 21st August, 05:48 PM JST

BEIJING —

Popular Japanese teenager Ai Fukuhara’s Beijing Olympic campaign ended Thursday when she went down to world No. 1 Zhang Yining in the fourth round of the women’s table tennis singles tournament. Fukuhara, arguably the most well-known Japanese athlete in China, barely avoided a straight-games loss as top-seeded Zhang cruised into the quarterfinals with an 11-5, 11-2, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8 victory at Peking University Gymnasium.

Zhang, gold medalist at the Athens Games four years ago, was the one to last long in most of their quick-fire exchanges, with Fukuhara giving in to her perfection. ‘‘I lost the match, but I’m satisfied with the way I played against the defending champion at the Olympics—my dream stage,’’ said Fukuhara, who has gone back and forth between Japan and China since her childhood to improve her game. The 19-year-old even played in the world famous Chinese Super League for two years from 2005. ‘‘I enjoyed the match because of some long rallies. I believe I’ve become a better player after this match,’’ Fukuhara said. In the men’s singles third round, Chinese-born Yo Kan, representing Japan, defeated Russia’s Alexei Smirnov 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 14-12, 17-15.

Kyodo

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Latest 15 of 33 Total Comments Show All

Dukes at 10:11 PM JST - 21st August

There's no doubt that Ai-chan has been a grossly overrated media darling and probably others were more worthy of being the flagbearer, but there are a few unsporting idiot guests here willing to rub the salt in to a local. What's with the spite? You've probably all got lots of years on Ai-chan yet have only achieved a fraction of what she's done in her short life. She did her best and unfortunately fell short. So what?
isthistheend at 10:30 PM JST - 21st August

Yes, they say she's been a media darling since the age of 2 or 3, so its kind of like the whole nation grew up with her, these past 17 years, and could relate to her finally getting to the big stage against world No.1. Above that, she seems modest and polite and a hard working ethic. Isn't that enough for the Japanese to be in love with one of their own for? Nobody REALLY expected her to win. It was just part of the play to get money from the sponsors. And she still is a good representative of this country. Far better than what we see on the trains in daily life, that's for sure.
chibaman at 11:33 PM JST - 21st August

Zhangs comments after the game showed her to be an arrogant cow, and in my books is far worse than having a mere sook after a loss.

Now how the hell am I supposed to know what any non-Japanese athlete said?

Perhaps your disapproval of Ai's image and representation of flag-bearer is misdirected?

I don't think so. Perhaps Japan should choose cuter or more competent atheletes to spearhead it's war effort.

One more thing I thought funny and that shows the typical Japanese spirit; I was walking around in the big city this morning and saw an athletics store which has a poster with Ai-chan outside its doors, with 'Ganbare' written on it in goofy letters. In the late evening, on the way back to the station, it was gone... and not because the shop was closing.

Here is another example of Beautiful Japan shining bright. In a similar way, we won't hear much about little Ai-chan in the next couple of days or years, but if she had won any medal, whoa well those posters would have been enlarged and copied until the ink ran out, and tv coverage so looped you'd swear you left your DVD player on and was skipping ad infinitum.
ExPrinceska at 11:38 PM JST - 21st August

Now how the hell am I supposed to know what any non-Japanese athlete said?

hahaha, Chibaman, this is gold!
cesun at 12:01 AM JST - 22nd August

Err, there was an article written in English linked in another thread you wrote in. But now you don't need to read it, i've summarized it for you! Hooray.
Pukey2 at 12:12 AM JST - 22nd August

cesun: do you speak chinese?
chibaman at 12:15 AM JST - 22nd August

Ok so where are the comments that show her to be an arrogant cow? If you are referring to this -

The Beijing native, ranked 1st in the world, said she felt quite assured of a victory over the Japanese star and all she wanted to do during the match was hurry up and go back home for a rest.

I think that just shows the massive gulf in ability between the two, and that given this -

Japan, which has never won an Olympic table tennis medal since the sport was introduced at the 1988 Seoul Games

and that Fukuhara is currently ranked 12th in the world and her highest ranking ever was 9th in February this year (source not supplied), you'd think J-media would tone down their insanely unrealistic claptrap.
RomeoRamenII at 12:27 AM JST - 22nd August

Fukuhara outclassed by world No. 1 Zhang in table tennis

Outclassed? She's not even in the same class as Zhang.

RR
USNinJapan2 at 01:01 AM JST - 22nd August

Nowhere does it say that a country's flagbearer has to be a veteran orthe most accomplished athlete in it's ranks. Each country chooses its flabearer according to their particular standards and by what that individual represents and what kind of image he/she can project. In Japan's case they chose Fukuhara Ai because as the most popular Japanese ahtlete in China they felt she would be a good person to represent them in front of the home crowd in Beijing. I'd say it was an act of good will more than anything.
ProudKoreanGuy at 01:22 AM JST - 22nd August

She's still a teenager, so she has many years left to improve and become one of the best in the world - not to mention a gold medalist. I wish her a better luck in her future international competitions, including 2012 Olympics.
bebert at 05:03 AM JST - 22nd August

they chose Fukuhara Ai because as the most popular Japanese ahtlete in China they felt she would be a good person to represent them in front of the home crowd in Beijing.

Too bad for Ai-chan. At least she made it far enough to play the #1 in the world. But I'd like to add that America's flag bearer, a Sudanese runner from Darfur, was chosen specifically because he would be thumb in the eye to the Chinese host, as opposed to Japan who chose China's best loved Japanese athlete. Japan should be proud of its choice of Ai-chan. America should by ashamed of its sanctimonious, hypocritical choice.
Crucifier99 at 07:46 AM JST - 22nd August

The media has been touting her as a genius for years now. And the genuis has never won anything notable out of Japan.
cesun at 09:42 AM JST - 22nd August

I think that just shows the massive gulf in ability between the two

No, the scoreboard shows the difference in ability. Her comments show that she is an arrogant cow. Anyway, I agree with your other points, the media has definately made her up to be something that she is perhaps not. This is what the media does, it happens everywhere. So Ai lost. So what? It was against the world number 1, not some dropkick player who she should be ashamed for losing against.

cesun: do you speak chinese?

No, sorry..
Blue_Tiger at 06:35 PM JST - 22nd August

Agreed, cesun. As I said before, she had this coming, and the fact that she did worse in Beijing than she did in Athens is just poetic justice, in my opinion....
smithinjapan at 11:12 PM JST - 22nd August

Dukes: "You've probably all got lots of years on Ai-chan yet have only achieved a fraction of what she's done in her short life. She did her best and unfortunately fell short. So what?"

Oh, stop! You're going to make me cry. We've probably only achieved a fraction of what she's done in her short life in what? Table-tennis? I agree! In inspiring a country? I agree, insofar as Japan seems to forget about her the minute she loses. In terms of dating? Nope, done far more than her, guaranteed. In terms of language study? nope, again, I guarantee I've done far more.

Do you see my point? Crying that she has done more for the world and 'athletics' (questionable, with table-tennis) as a whole does not mean 'she has done more in her short life' than anyone else has. I dare you to say this kind of thing to a peace-keeper in Afghanistan, or someone who has devoted his/her life to charity. She has done little but attempt to excel in her sport, beyond that, in fact, I'd say she's accomplished much LESS in her 'short life' than most people have with age on her.