Advertisement

Tokyo Olympics: Feng Tianwei opens 4th Games campaign with win

Singapore paddler Feng Tianwei in action against Spain's Maria Xiao in the women's singles competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (PHOTO: SNOC / Kong Chong Yew)
Singapore paddler Feng Tianwei in action against Spain's Maria Xiao in the women's singles competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (PHOTO: SNOC / Kong Chong Yew)

Reporting from Tokyo

TOKYO — Singapore paddler Feng Tianwei kickstarted her fourth Olympic appearance with a 4-1 (8-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-2, 11-4) victory over Spain's Maria Xiao in her women's singles competition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Monday (26 July).

With the win, the 34-year-old advanced into the round-of-16, where she faces either Germany's Han Ying or Australia's Lay Jian Fang.

Her fellow women's paddler Yu Mengyu will hope to join her in the round of 16 on Tuesday morning, as she attempts to negotiate a tough tie against world No. 8 Cheng I-ching of Taiwan.

Feng is Singapore's most bemedalled Olympian with three medals - one silver and two bronzes - over her past three appearances.

Minister offers encouragement for eliminated Singapore Olympians

Meanwhile, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong offered encouragement for Team Singapore athletes who were eliminated from their competitions.

Fencer Amita Berthier, equestrienne Caroline Chew and paddler Clarence Chew could not advance further in their respective events, thereby ending their participation at the Tokyo Games on Sunday.

Tong said in a Facebook post on Monday, "Winning is not everything, and we also learn so much in defeat. I believe our athletes who were defeated will pick themselves up and come back even better."

"I know that they will not let this setback define their Olympic journey. If anything, this is only the start. They will return. Stronger, better, faster."

The minister was set to arrive in Tokyo on Monday to support the Singapore athletes in person.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

Other Olympic stories:

Tokyo Olympics: Naomi Osaka breaks media silence, even smiles

Tokyo Olympics: Debutant jitters? Not these unflappable Singaporean upstarts

Tokyo Olympics: Skip the pageantry, it's the athletes which deserve support