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SEA Games: Feng Tianwei takes gold in women's singles table tennis

Women’s Table Tennis Singapore Team Feng Tai Wei won the semi-final round during the Semi-final round SGP vs THAI at MITEC Center during 29th SEA Games in KL Malaysia on 22 Aug 2017 (Photo by Andy Pascua / SportSg)
Women’s Table Tennis Singapore Team Feng Tai Wei won the semi-final round during the Semi-final round SGP vs THAI at MITEC Center during 29th SEA Games in KL Malaysia on 22 Aug 2017 (Photo by Andy Pascua / SportSg)

REPORTING FROM KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

World no. 6 Feng Tianwei defeated compatriot Zhou Yihan to take the gold medal at the 2017 SEA games at MITEC Hall 7 in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (22 Aug)

This is the third gold medal for team Singapore in table tennis at the SEA Games.

The two-time Olympic medallist had crashed out in the group stages in the 2015 edition.

Feng overcame Zhou in a highly competitive match.

Zhou took what was a very tight first game 11-9. In the second game, a series of mistakes from Zhou allowed Feng to take a 9-3 lead, and Feng clinched it 11-6 to tie the matchup at 1-1.

Zhou secured the first three points of the third game and attacked Feng throughout, eventually clinching the game 11-7.

In the fourth round, Zhou again raced out to a 3-0 lead. Feng took the next four points, only for Zhou to fight back and seize a 9-6 lead.

Feng refused to back down with the game on the line however, and upped her game to take the next five points, tying the scores at 2-2.

Game five would prove to be a tight affair, but with scores tied at 10-10, Zhou committed crucial mistakes, allowing Feng to clinch it 12-10 and take a 3-2 lead.

Feng almost had the final game in hand, only to allow Zhou to make a comeback to level the scores at 10-10 despite having a 10-6 lead. A few rounds of back and forth ensued, before Feng eventually pull through to win the game 13-11, and the match 6-4.

Feng called the gold medal a meaningful one after the match. Speaking in Chinese to the media, she said, “I’m very, very happy. This wasn’t easy, playing in the last two matches. Final match against teammate, both of us played very well and it was very competitive and exciting.”

“It wasn’t easy to play against her. She’s made a lot of improvement and there’s not much gap between us. That’s why the scores were so tight during the match, so I had to fight very hard for all the points.”

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