Sunday, May 30, 2010
11:48 PM
World Team Table Tennis Championships - Singapore Triumph China to Win Historic Gold


For the first time in its sporting history, Singapore trashed her nemesis China in the World Team Table Tennis Championships with an amazing score of 3-1! This is also the first time Singapore has won a world titled tale tennis event.

The Singaporean Team was represented by Feng Tianwei, Wang Yuegu and Sun Beibei. Feng and Wang was fielded in the finals of the world team championships in 2008 as well. Meanwhile, China was represented by players who are relatively inexperience. World No. 1 Liu Shiwen and Ding Ning, who are both 19 years old, were playing in their first World Team Championships, while veteran Guo Yan has never played in the finals before.

The first match saw Feng against the Beijing native Ding Ning, who was once under Singapore's Coach Zhou Shusen. Initially, Feng seems to have problems adapting to the unique service of Ding Ning's. However as the match progress, it was Ding Ning who appeared to be more nervous and made many unforced errors, allowing Tianwei to grab the game, 3-2.

The second game saw 2 players who were both from Liao Ning province - Wang Yuegu and Liu Shiwen. In the first game, Wang was playing fast but consistent and she moved into a 7-1 lead. Liu tried to recover but to no avail. Wang went on to clinch the 2nd and 4th game, winning 3-1.

The Chinese was represented by their most experienced player in the team, Guo Yan, in the third game, whilst Singapore fielded Sun Beibei. Clearly, Guo Yan wa the favourites but Sun did not give up. Sun Beibei played above her level to capture the first set. However, at critical moments, experience counts. Guo Yan played with a high level of consistency, aiming to keep the ball on the table than Beibei instead of attacking. Her tactics works and she won the next 3 sets.

Olympics Silver medalist Feng Tianwei entered the arena in the fourth game to take on Liu Shiwen. It is a match between the World No. 1 & 2. Feng and Liu had met 3 times on the international stage and it was Liu who won all of their encounters. However, things was not going the Chinese way that day. The atmosphere was tensed. Feng proved to be the more consistent player on stage. The game was stretched to the decisive fifth set and Feng held the Gold Medal Point at 10-6. Liu managed to save one point but it was Feng who won the next.

Singapore is crowned the Champions for the first time!




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