SINGAPORE — She survived an early scare but Olympic veteran Feng Tianwei progressed to the fourth round of the table tennis women’s singles at Tokyo 2020 on Monday (July 26) after a 4-1 win over Spain’s Maria Xiao.

At the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Feng got off to an uncharacteristically poor start as she lost the first game 8-11 to Xiao, who is ranked 72nd in the world.

“It was the first game, and I was behind in the very beginning so I was rather nervous,” said Feng after the match.

The second game was just as tight as the first, but just as the Singaporean looked as if she was in danger, she recovered and recorded a 12-10 win.

“I’ve never met this opponent before, this is the first time. So I’m not familiar with her style, even though we made a lot of preparations. In the first two games I still found it hard to adapt,” said Feng.

“But I adjusted gradually and had it under control.”

Xiao had upset Hong Kong’s seventeenth seed Minnie Soo in the previous round, while Feng, who is seeded sixth, received a bye.

Ranked ninth in the world, the Singaporean looked to have regained her footing in the third game, and took it 11-5.

Feng, who is Singapore’s most decorated Olympian with three medals, then exerted herself on the game further, taking the game 11-2.

In cruise control, Feng then took the last game 11-4.

The 34-year-old, who has two Olympics bronze medals and one silver to her name, will next face either German Han Ying or Australian Jian Fang Lay in the next round.

But Feng is not too focused on who she comes up against.

“I don’t know who I’m playing next. but it doesn’t matter. I’ll treat it the same,” she said.

“I don’t have a target for myself at the Games, I just want to enjoy as much as I can.”

Feng’s compatriot Yu Mengyu will attempt to join her experienced teammate when she faces off with Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching on Tuesday. CNA

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