Feng Tianwei in quarter-final

SIANGAPORE: Singapore’s Feng Tianwei got off to a fine start at the Volkswagen Women’s World Cup on Friday, beating Hong Kong’s Jiang Huajun 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6, 11-3.Earlier in the afternoon, Singapore’s two other representatives in the competition, Wang Yuegu and Li Jiawei, competed against each other. Wang Yuegu eventually emerged victorious, winning 11-5, 11-6, 11-8, 13-15, 8-11, 11-9.

In their second match of the day, Wang lost to China’s world number two, Ding Ning while Li bounced back from her earlier defeat to beat Li Jiao from the Netherlands.Among the crowd was Guest-of-Honour Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, and once again, Feng Tianwei allowed the nerves of her supporters to jangle a little when she lost the first game.

Again, she battled back gamely, winning the next two games 11-9, 11-7.Fans were rooted to their seats as Hirano came back to win the fourth game 12-10 before a resurgent Feng Tianwei won the next two 11-8, 11-5 for a hard-earned victory.

The two victories propelled Feng Tianwei to the top of Group C, and the paddler is now on the verge of clinching a spot in the top eight.Speaking to media after the victory over Hirano, a clearly tired Feng Tianwei said: “Today I was more relaxed in my first match but maybe I was bit sleepy and tired as the second match was very late.

Feng Tianwei current success, achievements, accolades and meteoric rise to the top did not just fall into her lap by accident. Feng Tianwei had to slog her guts out for them.Feng Tianwei born as the only daughter to impoverished parents Feng Qingzhi, a granary worker, and his wife Li Chunping, an employee of a department store, life was not always a bed of roses for the three of them. As they were poor, Feng Tianwei’s parents had to scrimp and save just to afford Feng Tianwei’s table tennis training fees.