12-year-old girl aims high at table tennis worlds

DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Although 12-year-old Rizumu Ono of the Philippines lost a six-game thriller to six-time Olympian Olufunke Oshonaike of Nigeria, she has shown to the world that she has the potential to grow into one of the top players in future world championships.

Ono, born to a Japanese father and a Filipino mother, was defeated by the 41-year-old Oshonaike, 15-13, 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 6-11, 12-10, in the women's single qualifications stage.

"I want to be at a level that Ai Fukuhara, Mima Ito and Miu Hirano are at," said Ono, referring to Japan's top three players. "I watch them play all the time and really want to improve my game and follow their footsteps."

Ono, whose mother is a former table tennis player for the Philippines, took up the sport from age three and has been training full time ever since. She now lives and trains in Japan.

"I love attacking, I am aggressive and that is how I would like my style to continue further. I have to choose one nationality once I turn 20 as per the official requirements, but I have a long way to go for that," she said.

Oshonaike spoke highly of the youngster after the match.

"I must admit that I have never been so nervous like this in my life, particularly playing against the young girl who is not even older than my first son who is 14. I was so scared because she is so talented that even before the match, I could not sleep well. I knew that if I don't beat her I won't be able to make it out of the group," Oshonaike remarked.

"I must tell you that I was really scared wondering what I will tell Nigerians back home, that a 12 year-old girl beat me without them knowing that the girl is more talented than her age might suggest," added Oshonaike, who has won a total of 12 medals at the All-Africa Games.