AI Fukuhara - Table Tennis Career - Olympic Participation

Olympic Participation

Fukuhara qualified to participate in the 2004 Summer Olympics in the Asian zone qualifying tournament. 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 in the Olympic Games. She reached the round of 16 in her first Olympic Games, losing to bronze medalist Kim Kyung-Ah.

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. 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.

Fukuhara was directly qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics through world ranking. She was chosen as the national flag bearer for Japan at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. 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). 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 reached their first table tennis finals in the Olympics over Singapore. However, Japan failed to defeat China in the finals but got her first silver medal ever in table tennis.

Read more about this topic:  Ai Fukuhara, Table Tennis Career

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