Ai Fukuhara

Ai Fukuhara (福原 愛, Fukuhara Ai, born 1 November 1988) is a retired Japanese table tennis player and Olympic medalist, winning silver at the 2012 Summer Olympics and bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics with the Japanese women's team. She is sponsored by All Nippon Airways.[3][4][5]

Ai Fukuhara
Personal information
Nickname(s)Ai-chan
Nationality Japan
Born (1988-11-01) 1 November 1988
Sendai, Japan
Playing styleRight-handed, Shakehand grip
Highest ranking4 (November 2015)[1]
Current ranking12 (December 2016)
Height155 cm (5 ft 1 in)[2]
Weight48 kg (106 lb)

Table tennis career

Fukuhara began playing at the age of 3 and became a professional at age 10. The following year, she became the youngest player ever to become a member of the Japanese national team. Because of her age, she has been regarded as a "child prodigy" in table tennis.[6] At age 13, in 2002, she became the youngest-ever Japanese representative for the Asian Games.[7] In 2003, she reached the quarter-final, losing to top-seeded Zhang Yining, in her World Championships debut in Paris. [8] In 2004, she took part in the World Team Championships and helped Team Japan finish third.

Olympic participation

Fukuhara qualified to participate in the 2004 Summer Olympics in the Asian zone qualifying tournament.[9] The qualification entitled Fukuhara to compete in Athens, at the age of 15 years and 287 days, as the youngest-ever female table tennis player to debut in the Olympic Games.[10] She reached the round of 16 in her first Olympic Games, losing to bronze medalist Kim Kyung-Ah.[11]

Round Result Opponent's Country Opponent Score By Match
1st Bye
2nd W  Australia Miao Miao 4–3 5–11 7–11 11–9 11–6 11–6 9–11 11–9
3rd W  United States Gao Jun 4–0 11–3 11–6 11–8 11–9
4th L  South Korea Kim Kyung-Ah 1–4 8–11 5–11 11–7 13–15 6–11

In April 2005, Fukuhara replaced compatriot Aya Umemura and became the highest-ranked Japanese female on the ITTF World Ranking list.[12] She advanced to the semifinals at the 2005 Women's World Cup, losing to Guo Yan in the semifinals but beating Tie Ya Na in the third place match.[13][14]

Fukuhara was directly qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics through world ranking.[15] She was chosen as the national flag bearer for Japan (Chinese: 日本; pinyin: Rìběn) at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.[16] Fukuhara teamed up with Sayaka Hirano and Haruna Fukuoka at the women's team event. They reached the bronze medal contest but lost to South Korea. In the singles event, Fukuhara advanced to round of 16, losing to gold medalist Zhang Yining.

She also qualified directly for the London 2012 Olympic Games with her world ranking in June 2011, but lost to Ding Ning on 31 July 2012, (13–15, 6–11, 6–11, and 4–11).[17] At the Women's Team Event semi-finals, she defeated Feng Tianwei (11–9, 11–6, 5–11 and 11–9) in the first match which eventually helped Japan reach their first table tennis finals in the Olympics over Singapore.[18][19] However, Japan failed to defeat China in the finals but Fukuhara got her first silver medal ever in table tennis.[20]

Fukuhara also qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she lost a close semi-final against Germany with her team and later won bronze together with Kasumi Ishikawa and Mima Ito on her side by defeating the team from Singapore.[21] She was also playing for Japan in the Singles event and reached 4th place after losing against Li Xiaoxia and losing in the game for bronze against Kim Song-i.[22]

Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games

Ai Fukuhara won Table Tennis Women's Doubles with Kasumi Ishikawa.[23]

ITTF Kuwait Open 2010

The Kuwait Open 2010 would be Ai's most fruitful competition at that time. On the way to the finals, she caused numerous upsets.[24] Starting off, she upset China by defeating Guo Yue. Later on, she played Singapore's Wang Yuegu, where Ai eventually won 4–2. After two shocking wins, Ai went on to cause another upset to China by beating the experienced top-spin specialist, Guo Yan. In the highly lauded and suspenseful final, she nearly defeated China's top seed Liu Shiwen, but lost 3–4.

Retirement

Fukuhara announced her retirement in October, 2018.[25]

Popularity

Her first name, Ai, means "love" and she is often referred to as "Ai-chan" (愛ちゃん) in Japan. Her youth and talent have made her a popular sports star in Japan. Fukuhara has appeared in two Japanese table tennis video games, including Ikuze! Onsen Takkyū!! (Do it! Hot Spring Table Tennis!!), released on 21 December 2001 and Fukuhara Ai No Takkyū Icchokusen (Ai Fukuhara's Table Tennis), released on 24 June 2004, both for the PlayStation 2.[26][27][28] She carried the Olympic flame when it traveled to Tokyo in 2004.[29][30] She carried the torch once again for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, and was the flag bearer for the Japanese national team at the Opening Ceremonies.[16][31]

Since she has been playing table tennis in China from a very young age, Fukuhara can speak fluent Mandarin Chinese with a Northeastern accent. Therefore, she has greater popularity in China than most other table tennis players from outside of China.[32] In an incident widely reported by the Chinese media, she wrote down "中日友好" (meaning "Sino-Japanese friendship" in both Chinese and Japanese) when meeting Wang Yi, then Chinese ambassador to Japan (now the Minister of Foreign Affairs), at the height of the 2005 anti-Japanese demonstrations.[33]

In July 2005, Fukuhara guest-starred alongside Chinese actor Jackie Chan during the opening of a photograph exhibition, in Roppongi Hills, to celebrate 60 years of peaceful coexistence between China and Japan.[34] During Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan in 2008, Hu played table tennis with Fukuhara at Waseda University.[35][36]

Personal life

Fukuhara attended Aomori Yamada Junior High School and graduated from Aomori Yamada High School in 2007. Both schools are located in the city of Aomori in Aomori Prefecture. In 2007, she enrolled in Waseda University's sports science department; she decided to drop out in 2010 to focus on her table tennis competitions.[37]

Fukuhara married Taiwanese table tennis player Chiang Hung-chieh in 2016 following the Rio Olympics.[38] She gave birth to their daughter on Friday 13 October 2017.[39] Their marriage life is the subject of a Chinese reality show.[40]

References
  1. "ITTF world ranking". ITTF. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  2. "Japanese Medalists in London 2012 Olympics". joc.or.jp. Japanese Olympic Committee. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  3. "ITTF biography". ITTF. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  4. "Ai Fukuhara's Biography and Olympic Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  5. "FUKUHARA Ai (JPN)". ITTF. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  6. Andrew Marshall (17 February 2003). "Small Wonders". TIME. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  7. "Ai-chan ousted in sixth round". The Japan Times. 23 December 2002. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  8. Ian Marshall (23 May 2003). "Gaining Experience". ITTF. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  9. "Ai-chan books Olympic ticket". Kyodo News. 11 April 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  10. "Table Tennis at the 2004 Athina Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  11. "2004 Olympic Games, Athens, GRE". ITTF. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  12. "Ai-chan is top-ranked Japanese". The Japan Times. 6 April 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  13. Steve Dainton; Ian Marshall (15 December 2005). "The Mental Edge". ITTF. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  14. Steve Dainton; Ian Marshall (15 December 2005). "Unbeatable". ITTF. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  15. "2008 Olympic Games". ITTF. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  16. Wu Zhi (4 August 2008). "Fukuhara looks to end Japan's medal drought". Xinhua. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  17. "Qualified Players London" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2011. ITTF – Players qualified for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  18. "Women's Team Event semi-finals 1 results". Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  19. "Japanese women make it through". Archived from the original on 27 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  20. "Women's team finals results". Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  21. "Japan women earn bronze". The Japan News. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  22. "Rio 2016: Kim Song-i frustrates Ai Fukuhara, wins bronze medal in five games". Valvel The International Sports Paper. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  23. Deng Shasha (7 December 2009). "Japanese Fukuhara/Ishikawa win women's table tennis doubles at EAG". Xinhua. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  24. "2010 Kuwait Open – ITTF Pro Tour". ITTF. Archived from the original on 8 August 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  25. "Table tennis: Fukuhara feels 'lighter' after retirement announcement", Mainichi Shimbun, 23 October 2018, archived from the original on 31 October 2018, retrieved 31 October 2018
  26. "Ai Fukuhara's Ping Pong". ign.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  27. "Ikuze! Onsen Takkyu". ign.com. 1 December 2000. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  28. "Got to do! Hot Spring Table Tennis". play-asia.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  29. "'Ai-chan' replaces 'Mr. Giants' in Tokyo Olympic torch relay". The Japan Times. 2 May 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  30. "Olympic flame carried through Tokyo on way to Athens". The Japan Times. 7 June 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  31. "Torch security smothers relay". Kyodo News. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  32. Simon Rabinovitch (14 August 2008). "Japanese belle Fukuhara wins over China". Reuters. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  33. 福原爱：中日民间花季"大使". Xinhua (in Chinese). 29 April 2005. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  34. "Photo exhibition on Japan-China friendship starts in Tokyo". Xinhua. 28 July 2005. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  35. "National Chairman Hu Jintao speaks of future-oriented amity to next term's Japanese and Chinese youth". Yomiuri Shimbun. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  36. "President Hu plays pingpong in Japan". Xinhua. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  37. "Fukuhara drops out of Waseda, shifts focus to London Olympics". Kyodo News. 6 March 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  38. "Table tennis star Fukuhara announces marriage to Taiwanese player", The Japan Times, 9 September 2016, archived from the original on 19 October 2016
  39. https://www.ittf.com/2017/10/17/girl-japans-table-tennis-queen-becomes-mother/
  40. 江, 昭倫 (26 June 2018). 江宏傑、福原愛 首登陸實境節目幸福三重奏 (in Chinese). Radio Taiwan International. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
Olympic Games
Preceded by
Kyoko Hamaguchi		 Flagbearer for  Japan
Beijing 2008		 Succeeded by
Saori Yoshida
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