SEA Games: Redemption for Feng Tianwei as she avenges 2015 loss

KUALA LUMPUR — She had waited two years for revenge, and Singapore's Feng Tianwei was not about to allow her Thai rival Suthasini Sawettabut to get the better of her again. 

Up against Suthasini in the women's singles semi-final at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games on Tuesday (Aug 22), Feng - who suffered a shock loss to Suthasini in the group stage of the singles competition on home soil at the 2015 Games - had looked on track to claim gold after storming to a 3-1 lead. 

But the young Thai paddler turned on the heat in the next two games, as the point-to-point battle kept spectators at the Mitec Hall 7 on the edge of their seats. 

The defending gold medallist clawed back to win the next two, 11-6, 11-9 to level matters at 3-3.

The decider was a tense affair for both paddlers, and Feng's gold medal hopes appeared all but over as a series of unforced errors saw Suthasini storming to a 10-7 lead. 

But Feng was not about to give up the gold, as the 30-year-old clawed her way back to level the score at 12-12, before clinching a hard-earned 14-12 victory. 

Feng's win also means that Singapore are assured of gold after teammate Zhou Yihan won her semi-final (4-0) against Thailand's Nanthana Komwong to set up an all-Singaporean final. This is the third gold for Singapore's paddlers after they won titles in the men's and women's doubles earlier this week. 

Feng said 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." 

She is looking forward to giving fans an entertaining show in this afternoon's final. She added:"This gold medal match is between my teammate and I and I hope we put up a fight. The gold is Singapore's, we want to fight and give the crowd a good show." 

Defending champion Suthasini will share the joint bronze with teammate Nanthana, and she said: "Feng showed no fear because she beat me recently (at another tournament) and she is very strong." I am a little sad...  I played well, but she played even better."