Japanese table tennis wunderkind Ai Fukuhara admits the super-competitive Chinese league has made her a better player.

The 17-year-old, known in Japan as "Ai-chan" or Little Ai, had played in the world famous league since June 2005 before she decided recently to sit out next season to study in the prestigious Waseda University in Tokyo.

"The Chinese league is the most competitive in the world and I have learned a lot from it," said Fukuhara on Saturday, who played for northeast China's Liaoning club with Chinese star players Wang Nan and Guo Yue.

In the World Cup group competition on Friday, Fukuhara lost to China's Olympic and world champion Zhang Yining in straight sets before she routed African champion Bacent Osman 4-0.

The doll-faced Japanese will fight for a quarter-final berth against 37-year-old American Gao Jun Saturday afternoon.

Japan pins a medal hope on Fukuhara in the 2008 Olympics while Chinese see her a major threat in the near future.

"Fukuhara is a very promising player and we think she will get even better in 2008," said Chinese coach Shi Zhihao.

Following her mother, Chiyo Fukuhara, into the world of table tennis, she began playing at the age of 3 and became a professional at 10. The following year, she became the youngest player ever to become a member of the Japanese national team.

At age 13, she reached the quarterfinals of the Japanese championships. In the following year, she finished fifth in the world championships in Paris. In 2004, she led Japan to a world team bronze medal.

At 15, Fukuhara made her Olympic debut, reaching the round of 16.

Once famous for bursting into tears when she lost a match, the Olympic experience helped Fukuhara grow up.

A child celebrity since she could barely hold a bat, she would frequently throw tantrums if she lost to grown-up studio guests and her mood would only improve if they let her win the next game.

Now, Fukuhara has graduated from a cuddly figure to a respected player.

Fukuhara, who is 155 centimeters tall, imitates the fast-attacking style of legendary Chinese Deng Yaping, who stands only 149cm. Like Deng, Fukuhara uses pimpled rubber on the backhand and reversed rubber on the forehand.

She is quick on the floor, has a lightning forehand and nearly perfect footwork.

"Even as the world No. 1, Zhang Yining never takes Fukuhara lightly," said Chinese coach Shi. "Fukuhara will have a bright future."

Source: Xinhua