Double whammy for S’pore as Feng, Yu lose in singles quarter-finals

RIO DE JANEIRO — It was a disastrous day at the office for Singapore on Tuesday night (Aug 8) as Feng Tianwei and Yu Mengyu both crashed out of the women’s table tennis singles quarter-finals.

Feng was whitewashed 0-4 by Japan’s Ai Fukuhara while Yu could not find a way past the North Korean defensive wall that was Kim Song I as the world No 13 lost 2-4.

Feng’s loss was an upset as the world No 4 is ranked four places higher than Fukuhara. The 29-year-old is also the defending bronze medallist and the second seed at the Rio Olympics.

Instead, it was Fukuhara who triumphed after putting in her best-ever performance at the Olympics.

Despite winning 14 of her 17 encounters against Fukuhara since 2007 – Feng quickly found herself on the back foot early in the contest.

Fukuhara notched the first psychological blow with a 14-12 win in the first game, before claiming the next three games 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 over a shellshocked Feng.

After the encounter, Fukuhara sported a grin as she smashed her autographed balls into the fans here at the Riocentro Pavilion 3. Just metres away, Feng could only offer a feeble wave to the crowd as she came off the court. 

“My opponent played very well today, and she exceeded what I expected of her,” said Feng.

“I was a bit nervous and my change of game tactics was not very successful and I wasn’t patient enough.

“Today she played the best game I ever seen her play (against me). The first game was crucial because I was leading 6-3 but I didn’t deal properly with a few balls and allowed her to chase me.”

Fukuhara said: “I’m so happy. Based on ability, playing Tianwei if I win 50 per cent of 10 matches, that’s very good already given the huge gap between us.

“But at the Olympics, I just wanted to go out there and fight, and I wasn’t thinking of anything else. My teammate’s (Kasumi Ishikawa) loss in the earlier rounds gave me motivation, but pressure as well.”

Singapore then suffered a second blow when Yu lost to Kim to end the Republic’s hopes of a singles medal.

Distraught after bowing out 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-9, 6-11 despite a spirited display, Yu had to compose herself several times before speaking to the media. “It’s such a pity because I’m playing in my first Olympics and I got to this stage,” she said.

“But I just couldn’t handle her game and she played much better than me today.”

Feng and Yu must now refocus for the women’s team event on Friday, along with third member Zhou Yihan. They take on Egypt in Round 1.