By James Crook

9112955291 72e4a3a16e zJune 23 - In one of the greatest shocks in the history of table tennis, Japanese world number 188 Masato Shiono achieved the seemingly impossible by defeating a host of top-class players to take his first open crown on home soil in Yokohama.

The 27-year-old, who even had to pay his own entry fees for the tournament, defeated three of the world's top 30 players, most notably world number six and doubles world champion Chih-Yuan Chuang of Chinese Taipei, on his way to his first ever title win.

It was not just Shiono that upset the apple cart in the men's singles however.

Chinese newcomer Chenhao Xu managed to reach the final on his first Tour appearance, making it the first time that two unseeded players had made it all the way to the gold medal match.

9114163816 166a8c0a94 cWorld number 188 Shiono shocked the home crowd by defeating world number six Chih-Yuan Chuang on his way to his first ever title

It was a clean-sweep in the final for the Japanese, however, as he overcame his opponent in straight sets 11-3, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 to the delight of the home crowd.

And he is now determined to show that he has what it takes to repeat the feat and compete at the very highest level.

"I was so surprised to win the event, because I have never won a title in Japan before, let alone an event of this size." said Shiono following his win.

"Playing in front of all these people and being live on national TV in Japan is a dream for me, I can't believe it.

"I even had to pay the entry fees.

"I am going to enter the US Open in July and try to prove that this was not a fluke and I really belong on the world stage."

There was more glory for the home nation as Japanese icon and Olympic silver medallist Ai Fukuhara won the women's singles event to claim her first Super Series World Tour victory in front of a capacity crowd.

9112960823 3315b4b8e8 zAi Fukuhara completed a dream day for Japan by winning the women's singles in Yokohama

The world number 15, who recently had a life-size waxwork of herself unveiled at Tokyo Airport, defeated South Korean Hyun Jung Moon 11-7, 11-5, 13-11, 11-8 to take the title.

"This is the first time I won the Japan Open, an event which is very special to me." she said.

"I am very happy to win such a big event in front of so many people.

"The reason that I won today was the spectators, especially the ones that have followed my whole career."

The next stop on the ITTF World Tour calendar is the Morocco Open in Rabat, which is due to run from June 27 until 30.

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