Table tennis: Fukuhara crashes out again at nationals

Table tennis: Fukuhara crashes out again at nationals

TOKYO, Japan - Ai Fukuhara looks dejected after losing in the sixth round of the women's singles at the national table tennis championships in Tokyo on Jan. 19. The popular teen, who has already booked her spot for this summer's Beijing Olympics, lost in full sets to 2007 quarterfinalist Reiko Hiura at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Fukuhara has not won a national title in nine appearances.

Table tennis: Fukuhara crashes out again at nationals

Table tennis: Fukuhara crashes out again at nationals

TOKYO, Japan - Ai Fukuhara looks dejected after losing in the sixth round of the women's singles at the national table tennis championships in Tokyo on Jan. 19. The popular teen, who has already booked her spot for this summer's Beijing Olympics, lost in full sets to 2007 quarterfinalist Reiko Hiura at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Fukuhara has not won a national title in nine appearances. (Kyodo)

Table tennis: 13-year-old Harimoto stopped by Xu in q'finals

Table tennis: 13-year-old Harimoto stopped by Xu in q'finals

Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto (L) plays against Xu Xin of China in the men's singles quarterfinals of the world table tennis championships in Dusseldorf, Germany, on June 4, 2017. Xu defeated the youngest quarterfinalist, at age 13, by four games to one. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Fukuhara to compete at Asian Olympic qualifier

Fukuhara to compete at Asian Olympic qualifier

TOKYO, Japan - Teenager Ai Fukuhara (in file photo) will be fielded in the women's singles competition at next year's Asian Olympic qualifying event in Beijing, the Japan Table Tennis Association (JTTA) said on Dec. 13. Fukuhara, ranked 38th in the world, was a quarterfinalist at the World Championships in May and will have a shot to book a ticket to next summer's Athens Olympics if she can place among the top seven in the women's singles competition at the April 9-13 meet in Beijing. (Kyodo)