SEA Games: Feng Tianwei lands women's singles title after long two-year wait

KUALA LUMPUR — Feng Tianwei had waited two long years to exact revenge on Suthasini Sawettabut, the Thai paddler who scored the biggest upset of the SEA Games in Singapore two years ago when she defeated the then world No 4 in the group stage of the women’s singles. 

As a result of that loss, the gold-medal favourite failed to make even the semi-finals.

On Tuesday (Aug 22), with Suthasini staring at her from across the table once again, this time in Kuala Lumpur, and in the semi-final, the 30-year-old was not about to let her rival get the better of her again. 

While Feng had looked ready to cruise to victory after storming to a 3-1 lead, she was caught off guard by her rival’s fierce comeback in the next two games, which Suthasini won 11-6, 11-9. 

The decider was a tense affair, and Feng’s gold medal hopes appeared over as the Thai player stormed to a 10-7 lead. But Feng was not about to give up. 

Clawing back to level the score at 12-12, the world No 6 then clinched the next two points and the 14-12 victory.

And it was clear how much the result meant to her. Usually stoic during her matches, Feng unleashed a shout of delight after clinching the hard-earned win, raising her arms to work up the crowd at the Mitec Hall 7. 

Said Feng after the match: “When I was leading 3-1, my opponent fought hard and she was very fierce. She clawed back to 3-3, and then she was leading 10-7 in the last game. But I told myself: ‘Feng Tianwei you haven’t lost. You still have a chance of winning a point’, so I didn’t give up.

“I’m very happy because two years ago in Singapore I lost this gold medal to her. This time, my attitude going in was that the gold is in my rival’s hands and I have to snatch it back. 

“When I was losing I didn’t panic and I just fought a point at a time.”

Backed by the support in the stands, the Singaporean then pulled off another victory against teammate Zhou Yihan in the final later in the day, routing her younger colleague 4-2 to clinch the gold.  

After shaking hands with Feng, a disappointed Zhou was seen staring at the ground, a towel resting on the back of her neck.

But Feng paid tribute to her opponent and teammate.

"I’m very happy, these two matches were not easy, although my last match was against a teammate," she said.

"Both players I came up against played very well and the points were very close. I’m thankful that Zhou Yihan fought so hard because even though it was challenging for me, it gave everyone an entertaining match. 

"She has improved a lot. Even though the points don’t reflect that, every points was a tough one."

The gold medal was even more significant for Feng as this is her first time she is competing in the Games as an independent athlete.

Just last year, she was axed from the national team, with the Singapore Table Tennis Association citing the need for rejuvenation. While reports subsequently emerged that Feng had been dropped after disagreements with the STTA over prize money, reimbursement claims and disrespect of authority, both parties have agreed to work together for the future. 

Feng added: “Two years is a long time to wait (to win the gold), but this competition was worth the wait. This gold for me has a lot of meaning and significance, as everything was focused on this result.”

STTA president Ellen Lee was there on Tuesday to support Feng and Zhou during the semi-finals, and she congratulated the 30-year-old after the match.

After three days of competition in Kuala Lumpur, Team Singapore’s paddlers have four gold medals at the Games in the men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles — Gao Ning defeated Clarence Chew 4-1 (5-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6) to win the men’s singles gold for the fifth time.

Lee is hopeful they can reap two more gold in the men’s and women’s team events, telling TODAY: “I’m happy to see Tianwei win a gold for Singapore. I am cautiously confident of winning the remaining two.”