Feng Tianwei says she will play on despite STTA axe

SINGAPORE — Multiple Olympic medallist and former world team champion Feng Tianwei has been axed from the national team by the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA), but she has come out to declare that she is not qutting the international scene.

In a decision that shocked the local sporting fraternity, the STTA announced on Tuesday (Oct 25) that the 30-year-old, whose contract with the association ends on Oct 31, will not get a new deal as she “does not fit into the STTA’s current plans for rejuvenation” in the association’s new high performance strategic plan.

Feng, who has been a member of the Singapore national team since 2007, will be 34 by the time the 2020 Olympic Games kick off in Toyko. As such, STTA president Ellen Lee believes this is an opportune time to “rejuvenate and refresh our teams to be future ready”.

“Tianwei has been a cornerstone of the national team since 2007. She has brought many golden moments to the sport,” said Lee in a media release.

“We would like to thank her for all that she has done for Singapore table tennis, and we would like to take this opportunity to wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”

But Feng, who has three Olympic medals to her name (team silver at Beijing 2008, team bronze and singles bronze at London 2012), said in a Facebook post on Tuesday night that she will “continue to compete in international competitions using a different method”.

“I will share my plans in a few days’ time,” she added. “Thank you everyone for your concern.”

The Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) - a unit under Sport Singapore (SportSG) - hinted that it may continue to support Feng.

“Sport Singapore has been kept updated by STTA regarding its plans for our top table tennis players,” said SSI Chief Toh Boon Yi. “We will discuss with Feng Tianwei, STTA and SNOC on the option of supporting her under the spexScholarship scheme, and the performance targets and milestones expected of her.”

Feng’s exit is the latest episode of a tumultuous year for Singapore table tennis, where the sport was littered with disappointing results, spats between players and coaches, ill-discipline and a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) probe.

The troubles started in October last year, during the Poland Open, when Feng and teammate Yu Mengyu had demanded a change of coach from Jing Junhong to then-men’s team head coach Yang Chuanning. It led to a court-side tiff between Yu and Jing, and saw coach Yang fired.

On court, Feng was disappointing at the Rio Olympic Games in August, where she failed to defend her singles bronze medal. She also struggled in the team event, missing out on an Olympic bronze after a 3-1 loss to Japan.

Things turned for the worse in September, when TODAY broke the news that Feng and Yu were unhappy with their set-up at the STTA, and wanted to be managed independently from the association. The players were exploring the possibility of being managed by Sport Singapore (SportSG) or the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI).

And on Monday, men’s paddler Li Hu was sacked for repeated misconduct and is reportedly under a CPIB probe for offering a team official a bribe.

Team Singapore athletes TODAY spoke to were surprised at Feng’s exit.

“I’m pretty shocked by this and it’s a brave move by the STTA because, by losing their top player, it shows they’re willing to sacrifice short-term results for hopefully long-term gains,” said former national paddler Jason Ho. “Maybe this rejuvenation will also give the association a chance to set some ground rules for their players as well.”

National hurdler Dipna Lim-Prasad, who had been on the same Team Singapore contingent as Feng on five occasions, said: “It’s a shame because Tianwei has contributed so much to Singapore sport and has so much experience to offer.

“I feel experienced athletes do have a role to play in helping to groom and guide younger up-and-coming athletes. So I hope she has not been completely excluded and I do hope to see her involved in Singapore sport in future.”

In Tuesday night’s announcement, the STTA also said they are monitoring the injury status of Yu before deciding on her future.

For now, Singapore’s women table tennis Olympic quest will rest on the shoudlers of Zhou Yihan, Lin Ye and Zeng Jian, who are in their early 20s.

“After the Rio Olympics, it is indeed timely for STTA to develop, rejuvenate and refresh our teams to be future ready,” said STTA chief Lee. “Bold moves are needed if we are interested in challenging the top table tennis nations for honours.”