Off track ..... Japanese belle Fukuhara wins over China

Talented, doll-faced and fluent in Mandarin, Japanese table tennis player Ai Fukuhara may also be the best thing in years for China-Japan relations.

Chinese fans supported her during a tough Olympic match against a Spanish player on Thursday, urging the world No 12 to victory and showing no trace of the animosity that Chinese often reserve for Japan.

"She's our Asian player. She's got a fine personality and is truly gorgeous," said Chen Xiao, 34, an IT worker who led his largely male group of friends in enthusiastic cheers for Fukuhara.