Notícia

KARIN FUKUSHIMA FINISHED THE COMPETITION IN 8TH

Por CBTM

Fifteen year old Karin Fukushima from Brazil has proved herself to be Latin America's leading lady at the ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Vrsac, Serbia and she has excelled her own expectations.

She is through to the quarter-finals of the Cadet Girls' Singles, having beaten Egypt's Reem El Shoubary in the opening round on the morning of Saturday 28th October 2006.

Karin Fukushima won 11-6, 11-7, 11-3, 10-12, 11-13, 11-8.

Only Player
She is the only player from outside the traditionally two hotbed continents of Europe and Asia to reach the last eight with her display in the group stage on Friday 26th October 2006 being particularly impressive.

In order to book her place in the draw for places one to eight she beat Ariel Hsing of the United States, Priscilla Tommy of Vanuatu and in a gruelling five games encounter, the number four seed, Lee Ho Ching of Hong Kong.

A Chance
"Yesterday I didn't expect to win against Lee Ho Ching but when I got to two games all I thought to myself that I had a chance", explained Karin Fukushima. "I just tried my best, my services were working well and I just managed to win."

A place in the first round duly booked, she made a lightning start against Egypt's Reem El-Shoubary; she won the first three games. Victory seemed imminent; she led 10-5 in the fourth and then promptly lost the next seven points.

Pressure
"I knew I was near to winning and I felt the pressure", said Karin Fukushima in a relieved tone of voice. "Reem was calmer than me, she attacked hard and she didn't make any mistakes."

Winning the game spurred the young Egyptian forward; she captured the fifth game but in the sixth game matters looked bleak for Reem El-Shoubary. She trailed 5-10. Once again she threw caution to the wind, played positively and reduced the arrears to 8-10 before the Brazilian, blocking and controlling the play eventually forced and error and the Latin American camp breathed a sigh of relief.

Fought Hard
"After the third game Reem played very well, she fought really hard", continued Karin Fukushima. "Nevertheless, I managed to win and I'm really pleased, it's far more than I ever expected."

Success for Latin America but in the Cadet Girls' Singles the dominant force is Asia. Two Europeans progressed to the quarter-final stage; Serbia's Andrea Todorovic defeated Egypt's Noha Yossry, whilst Slovakia's Barbora Balazova accounted for Hong Kong's Lee Ho Ching.

All the remaining quarter-finalists emanated from Asia.