Sunday, August 16, 2009
5:42 PM
ITTF Pro Tour China Open - Double Happiness for Feng Tianwei
Feng Tianwei became the biggest Singaporean winner at the 2009 China Open in Tianjin. She bagged both the Bronze Medal in the Women Singles and Doubles Event together with Wang Yuegu. Gao Ning is another hero who caused an upset against the 6th Seed, Denmark's Michael Maze. It is one of Singapore's best outing this year and there will be more to come.

2nd Seed, Feng Tianwei duly booked her placed in the Semi Finals, after defeating China's Cao Zhen and Japanese Fukuhara Ai. However, her progress is stopped by 17th year old chopper Wu Yang. Host Nation's Wu Yang turned the tables to reach her first ever Women’s Singles final on the ITTF Pro Tour; in fact her previous best was in Bremen at the 2009 German Open, where it was Feng Tianwei who prevented her from progress. The unseeded Wu Yang defeated the Feng Tianwei 7-11, 11-3, 12-14, 11-1, 11-6, 11-1. The other 3 ladies faltered in the round of 16, where Sun Bei Bei faltered against Top Seed Liu Shiwen and Yu Meng Yu and Wang Yuegu lost to Dang Ye Seo and Cao Zhen respectively.

In the Men's Singles Event, Gao Ning was in splendid form, beating higher ranked opposition. It was for him a continuation of the good form he displayed earlier in the year at the Commonwealth Championships in the Scottish city of Glasgow, when he guided Singapore to the gold medal and in some style won the Men’s Singles title. Gao Ning succeeded 6-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2 agiainst Michael Maze. However, he was defeated by Top Seed and China's Wang Hao in the Quarter Finals. Gao Ning lost 12-10, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7.

In the Women's Doubles Event, Feng Tianwei/Wang Yuegu was ousted out by teenagers Ding Ning/Liu Shiwen. They lost to the eventual winners in 7 games, 8-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 12-14, 11-4, 12-10.

Our paddlers also pocketed 1 Silver and 1 Bronze in the U21 Events. Ma Liang settled for Silver after losing to Japan's Oya Hidetoshi. The 21 year old Japanese won 11-6,11-4,10-12,13-11,11-8. Meanwhile, Yu Meng Yu was awarded a Bronze after losing to Chinese Taipei's Ching I-Ching. In confident mood, the 17 year old posted a five games victory (5-11,11-13,12-14,14-12,8-11) over Yu Meng Yu.

Most of the members will be eading to South Korea next week, where Pang Xue Jie will be joining them. However, Gao Ning will be giving it a miss as he will be returning to his club in the Chinese Super League.




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