Japanese table tennis player Ai Fukuhara received an enthusiastic, if somewhat rough, welcome in the Olympic host city Thursday, as she was mobbed by a crowd and had to be escorted from the airport by police and security officers.
In an incident that reflected the popularity of Fukuhara in China, about 100 fans and local media personnel became excited when she appeared in the arrival lobby of Beijing Capital International Airport.
As screaming photographers jostled for positions and reporters loudly showered Fukuhara with questions, the heavily guarded 19-year-old rushed through and boarded a bus without holding a press conference, which had been originally scheduled.
"I was very surprised but I didn't feel scared because I knew no serious trouble would happen, and I felt safe because those security people were protecting me," Fukuhara told reporters after arriving at the athletes' village.