Different styles in harmony take Japan through to semi-finals

Ai Fukuhara gave Japan the perfect start against DPR Korea in the quarter-finals Photo By: ITTF Asia Office

Japan the fourth seeds in the Women's Team event at the Asian Championships in Yangzhou, China booked their place in the semi-finals early in the afternoon of Tuesday 18th September 2007.

They beat DPR Korea by three-matches to nil in their quarter-final encounter with the trio of Ai Fukuhara, Haruna Fukuoka and Saki Kanazawa on duty.

Sayaka Hirano, the runner up on the ITTF Pro Tour at the Liebherr Chile Open earlier in the year, and Ayumi Etsuzaki were the two players not selected for the vital contest.

The choice of players for the last eight duel was shrewd, all are attacking, all are very different.

Conventional

Ai Fukuhara is the conventional close to the table attacking player, quick strokes, reversed rubber on the forehand and short pimples on the backhand.

Similarly, Haruna Fukuoka is at her best close to the table but that's where the obvious likenesses with Ai Fukuhara ends.

Haruna Fukuoka uses reversed rubber on the forehand but on the backhand it is long pimples with no sponge. The varieties and degrees of deception that she creates cause adversaries a host of problems. Playing Haruna Fukouoka is for many worse than a nightmare.

Traditional Penholder

Both Ai Fukuhara and Haruna Fukuoka are right handed shakehands grip players; by contrast Saki Kanazwa is a left handed penhold grip player who like her team colleagues is at her best close to the table.

She is in the traditional penhold style using one side of the racket only, blocking on the backhand and attacking venomously on the forehand.

Three different styles but all in harmony in Yangzhou with success the end result.

Well Prepared

Ai Fukuhara opened proceedings with victory over Kim Mi Yong winning in three straight games.

"I was well prepared for the match, I didn't experience too many difficulties", said Ai Fukuhara. "I'd watched a video of my opponent and I was able to receive her service well; that certainly made a difference."

Confident

It was the start Japan needed and a confident Haruna Fukuoka entered the fray. She overcame Kim Jong, also in three straight games

"I was confident and in the match I was always ahead", explained Haruna Fukuoka. "Mentally I felt good, I wasn't sure what to expect, it's the first time I'd ever played her but I made a good start and that certainly helped."

Had to Win

A two-nil lead established it was the turn of Saki Kanazawa and she duly obliged. She beat Han Hye Song in three straight games.

"I had to win!" she smiled. "Ai and Haruna had both won, I had no choice." The choices were limited but it was the North Korean who had the less choice.

Typical

Saki Kanazawa in typical style attacked strongly from the forehand and created angles by blocking on the backhand. She was superb. "I received service well today", she added. "Also, my forehand was good today, especially on my first attack."

It was very good and it secured victory for Japan, a place in the semis and a guaranteed medal.

(Credit: ITTF. Click here for further information.)