Singapore’s Yu Mengyu Dives into Olympian Ocean—Brought Back by Chen Meng’s Splash
In an almost theatrical semi‑final at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Singapore’s Yu Mengyu found herself riding the waves too far into the deep end, as China’s world number one Chen Meng sailed past with a clean 4‑0 triumph (11‑6, 11‑8, 11‑7, 11‑6).
The “Game of Unforced Errors”
Victorious as she was, Chen’s blistering first three strokes left Yu scrambling to keep pace, but the Singaporean paddler hit too many unforced errors, turning what could have been a stunning upset into a headlineless drizzle.
- Yu, currently ranked 47th, gave a spirited performance, fighting every rally with gusto.
- Chen bagged the wins with lightning‑fast precision and decisive play.
There’s Still Hope for a Medal Sunrise
Even after this let‑down, Yu Mengyu still has time to turn the tide. She could snag Singapore’s first Olympic medal in women’s table tennis since London 2012, when the women’s crew grabbed bronze and teammate Feng Tianwei also took bronze in singles.
Next Up…
Upcoming challenge? It’s a do‑or‑die bronze play‑off that pits Yu against either the Japanese Mima Ito (world number 2) or China’s Sun Yingsha (world number 3). The showdown is set for 7 p.m. Singapore time, in the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Yu’s Summer of Surprise
Let’s not forget how Yu blew expectations out of the water this year. She toppled Portugal’s Shao Jieni, Taiwan’s Cheng I‑ching, America’s Liu Juan, and Japan’s own Kasumi Ishikawa to hurdle into the quarter‑finals—setting the stage for a potential medal haul.
Applause to Yu Mengyu for her relentless spirit and heart. The world watches, cheering for a Singaporean moment of triumph.
