by Wade Townsend

Absent from last week’s All Japan Championships and not selected for the Japanese national team heading to the Leibherr 2017 World Championships, the last time we saw Ai Fukuhara on the court was at the Rio Olympic Games.

Fans have started to wonder when we will next see the Japanese star in action.

Today, Fukuhara gave a statement about her future plans for table tennis, answering the question of when she will be back at the table.

“My intention is to return to competition after having a child.” Ai Fukuhara

Fukuhara married Chinese Taipei national table tennis team member Chiang Hung-Chieh last September and has continually emphasised her desire to make family her top priority.

Her statement today further confirmed her commitment to her new life outside of being an athlete.

While it doesn’t seem that Fukuhara and Chieh are currently expecting, fans will certainly be wondering whether or not a new addition to their family is just around the corner.