Japanese table tennis star Ai Fukuhara is to join Guangdong from Chinese Super League rivals Liaoning and has already started training with her new team, table tennis sources said Tuesday.
According to the sources, Fukuhara's management company, headed by her mother Chiyo, has taken over the Guangdong team, a move that will allow it to gain full control of the player's activities.
While competing in the Super League, Fukuhara will play matches in Japan and take part in national team training camps, and is also looking to play on the European tour.
"We had to take into consideration her training environment," said Fukuhara's father Takehiko. Chiyo Fukuhara added, "She will have good practice partners (at her new team)."