In the bronze medal match in the women’s table tennis team event, second seeds Japan faced Singapore. The Singapore team was looking to match the bronze they won in London while Japan looked to retain a place in the podium having won silver in 2012.

And it was Singapore who took a lead courtesy of Yu Mengyu. However, Japan drew level with the next singles match and extended their lead winning the doubles match as well. In a must-win match, Feng Tianwei failed to deliver for Singapore as Japan went on to clinch the bronze with a well-earned 3-1 victory.

Yu finishes strongly after a poor first game

Ai Fukuhara took on Yu in the first singles match. Fukuhara started well and sprayed the ball from side to side in the rallies putting Yu on the backfoot more than once. Yu was unable to handle the Japanese’s big forehands and Fukuhara won the opener comfortably.

Yu started playing with more intent and purpose increasing her aggressiveness. The 26-year-old was finding her range well and built up an 8-4 lead. Fukuhara pulled back one but Yu wrapped up the game 11-5 with some conviction.  

Yu working her backhand to great effect to bounce back strongly | Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Yu working her backhand to great effect to bounce back strongly | Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Singaporean carried on her momentum racing ahead to a 5-0 lead with some glorious backhands. Fukuhara looked stumped but eventually got on the scoreboard. The Japanese cut the lead to three points for 3-6 but Yu was still looking the better of the two and breezed through to seal the game 11-3.

Fukuhara regrouped and came charging back barely giving the Singaporean any time on the ball as she cruised to a staggering 9-1 lead in the fourth game. Yu though won the next three points to put pressure on the Japanese. However, focused Fukuhara closed out the game eventually to force the decider.

Fukuhara fights back to the force the decider | Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Fukuhara fights back to the force the decider | Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

In the fifth game, it was Yu who started brightly bringing up a 4-1 lead before a timeout was called by the Japanese. Fukuhara got the subsequent point but Yu constantly finding her shots and troubling the Japanese and set up seven match points. She only needed one as Yu clinched the game 11-4 to give Singapore the lead.   

Yu with a thumping victory to put Singapore ahead | Photo: Juan Mabromata/Getty Images
Yu with a thumping victory to put Singapore ahead | Photo: Juan Mabromata/Getty Images

Japan draw level

The top Singapore player in Feng and the top Japanese player in Kasumi Ishikawa faced off in the second match. It was a tight opening game but the Singaporean just managed to hold onto her lead setting up triple game points at 10-7. Ishikawa followed it up with some great shots opening up the table well to save all three of them. The Japanese then had game point of her own and it was Ishikawa who came from behind to grab the first game.

The second game started close but at 5-5 Ishikawa stepped up her game and Feng struggled. The Japanese went on to seal the game 11-6 to give Japanese a two-game lead.

Ishikawa takes control of the match | Photo: Juan Mabromata/Getty Images
Ishikawa takes control of the match | Photo: Juan Mabromata/Getty Images

In a must-win game for the Singaporean, Ishikawa nosed ahead for 6-4 before Feng had a timeout. The Japanese however maintained her control of the game and completed victory in straights to level the tie for Japan.

Japan extend their lead with win in the doubles

The doubles match saw Mima Ito joining Fukuhara while Yu paired up with Zhou Yihan. The Singaporean pair had a sluggish start but bounced back strong before edging out the game in a tight finish to give Singapore the winning start in the doubles match.

The Singapore pair celebrate as they clinch the first game | Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
The Singapore pair celebrates as they clinch the first game | Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

It was a real cat and mouse fight in the second game but an error from the Singaporeans gave the Japanese duo game point at 10-9. And the ball clipped the table and there was nothing Yu and Zou could do as Japanese drew level.

Unlike the last two games which were tight, this was almost one-sided. The Japanese paddlers with some clever variation and great serves were racing ahead. The Singapore team’s errors did not help their cause as Japan wrapped up the game 11-1 in emphatic style.

Momentum was well and truly with the Japanese as they cruised to 4-0. The Singapore pair had a timeout and it worked as they fought back to drew level before edging ahead 6-5 for the first time in the game. It was another tight game and Ito with a big smash gave Japan match point at 10-9. It was a nervy ending as Yu and Zhou saved two match points, failed to convert the game point they had in the end before the Japanese clinched the victory on their third match point.

Japan extend their lead to 2-1 after a commanding win | Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Japan extend their lead to 2-1 after a commanding win | Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

15-year-old with fearless tennis seals the deal for Japan

The fourth match saw Feng step up to take on Ito. Feng had a 7-5 lead but some relentless hitting and glorious shot making allowed Ito to reel off five points in a row for game points at 10-7. The Singaporean fended off two of those but couldn’t save the third as Ito took the opening game.  

Feng failed to see out the first game despite holding the lead | Photo: Luis Acosta/Getty Images
Feng failed to see out the first game despite holding the lead | Photo: Luis Acosta/Getty Images

Ito was attacking well while Feng struggled and the world number four could not find a way past the Japanese losing the second game 4-11.

Ito stuck to her game plan and it was working | Photo: Juan Mabromata/Getty Images
Ito stuck to her game plan and it was working | Photo: Juan Mabromata/Getty Images

With Singapore on the brink of defeat, it was do-or-die for Feng. Trailing 3-4 the timeout only momentarily allowed Feng to draw level. The 15-year-old was doing all the damage with her power and Feng had no answer. An enticing rally gave Ito four match points to seal the bronze medal for Japan. And Feng sent her shot long allowing Japan to seal the victory. 

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About the author
Pavitra Ganesan
Tennis enthusiast and aspiring journalist.