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Japan's original "toddler-paddler" eyes first medal

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-05-15 14:12

TOKYO - Feted as a child prodigy from the age of three, former "toddler-paddler" Ai Fukuhara knows it is high time she delivered on that early promise and won table tennis glory for Japan.

"I can feel the expectation on me this time round," the 18-year-old said before heading to Zagreb for the May 21-27 world championships. "I'll do everything I can to win a medal," Japan's Nikkan Sports quoted her as saying.

Fukuhara took part in the world team championships in 2004 and helped Team Japan to a third-placed finish but she is yet to win an individual medal.

Known in Japan as "Ai-chan", or Little Ai, Fukuhara has been a regular on television variety shows since an age when she was barely tall enough to see over the net.

The pig-tailed toddler would regularly throw tantrums if she lost to grown-up studio guests and her mood would only improve if they let her win the next game.