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Table tennis Olympians hold second wedding ceremony at Tokyo Disney Resort

Japanese Olympic medallist Ai Fukuhara and fellow table tennis player Chiang Hung-chieh held their second wedding ceremony at Tokyo Disney Resort on Sunday

By Reuters - 

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Japan's Olympic medalist Ai Fukuhara and fellow table tennis player Chiang Hung-chieh held their second wedding ceremony at Tokyo Disney Resort on Sunday (February 5), after having their first ceremony in September last year. 

Fukuhara and Chiang were welcomed with a warm round of applause as they entered the ceremony venue.

 

Disneyland's Mickey and Minnie Mouse also danced with them, along with other characters including Donald Duck and Chipmunks Chip 'n' Dale.

"Good evening everyone, I'm Hung-chieh. Thank you for coming tonight. It's a short time...(laughter), thank you," Chiang said at the wedding ceremony, as the audience giggled at his verbal fumble in Japanese.

Fukuhara, 27, began playing table tennis at the age of three and gained fame as a child prodigy in Japan, but her popularity extends far beyond her own country. Her fluency in Mandarin and participation in China's Super League have won her numerous supporters there and in other parts of East Asia, where she is often referred to as the "Japanese Doll".

Fukuhara competed in her first Olympics in 2004 when she was 15 years old. At the Beijing Games in 2008, she carried the flag for the Japanese delegation and in London four years later was a member of the team who won their first silver in table tennis.

 

This story was published in AsiaOne on 6 Feb 2017. 



Olympic table tennis players tie the knot

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Japan's Olympic medallist Ai Fukuhara and fellow table tennis player Chiang Hung-chieh of Taiwan announced their marriage on Wednesday.

Photos: Reuters, AFP 

Olympic table tennis players tie the knot

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Fukuhara, 27, began playing table tennis at the age of three and gained fame as a child prodigy in Japan.

Photos: Reuters, AFP 

Olympic table tennis players tie the knot

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Her fluency in Mandarin and participation in China's Super League have won her numerous supporters there and in other parts of East Asia, where she is often referred to as the "Japanese Doll".

Photos: Reuters, AFP 

Olympic table tennis players tie the knot

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"I proposed to her after the Rio Olympics when I got a chance," the 27-year-old Chiang, who also competed in Rio, told reporters.

Photos: Reuters, AFP 

Olympic table tennis players tie the knot

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"With regards to the way I proposed, I actually gave her a key and hoped that she would be an owner of our home."

Photos: Reuters, AFP 

Olympic table tennis players tie the knot

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Fukuhara, now 27, competed in her first Olympics in 2004 when she was 15 years old.

Photos: Reuters, AFP 

Olympic table tennis players tie the knot

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At the Beijing Games in 2008, she carried the flag for the Japanese delegation

Photos: Reuters, AFP 

Olympic table tennis players tie the knot

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In London four years later, she was a member of the team who won their first silver in table tennis.

Photos: Reuters, AFP 

Olympic table tennis players tie the knot

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The pair showed off their custom-made wedding rings, engraved with table tennis balls, which were designed by Chiang.

Photos: Reuters, AFP 

Olympic table tennis players tie the knot

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Fukuhara also won a bronze medal in the Rio Olympics.

Photos: Reuters, AFP 

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The four-time Olympian’s doll-cute looks and friendly personality have won her legions of fans among Chinese fans.

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Chiang, a Hsinchu native, was also at the 2016 Olympics, representing Taiwan.

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