Ai Fukuhara, who at the age of 16 is aiming to become the youngest national champion in women's singles, advanced to the quarterfinals of the mixed doubles for the first time in her career at the table tennis national championships on Wednesday.
Fukuhara and partner Ryusuke Sakamoto, who plays in the German Bundesliga, eased past the third and fourth rounds with straight-set victories at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
"This is the first time I made the top eight, so I'm really happy," said Fukuhara. The first round of the women's singles will be held Friday.