ITTF Asian Championships: China beat Singapore at women‘s team semifinal
Sports Scene
Asia;Indonesia
Ding Ning of China competes against Feng Tianwei of Singapore during day three of the ITTF-Asian Table Tennis Championships at Among Raga Stadium in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, September 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

Ding Ning of China competes against Feng Tianwei of Singapore during day three of the ITTF-Asian Table Tennis Championships at Among Raga Stadium in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, September 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

After a 3-0 rout against Singapore in the semifinal of women's team event at the 2019 ITTF Asian Table Tennis Championships on Tuesday, China have the chance to claim a seventh women's Asian Championships title in a row in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 

Despite the first set loss to her rival Lin Ye, the 25-year-old Chinese Chen Meng, the former world number one, fought back and wrapped up the following three straight-set, getting the team off to a great start with a 3-1 win (9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7) in the first match. 

In the second match, Ding Ning met veteran Feng Tian-wei, and the first set was tied at 11-11 before Ding's backhand winner sees the Chinese captain win it 12-11. She went on to take the next one 11-6 when Feng's top spin could only find the net. The 33-year-old Singaporean was then forced to retire through a wrist injury, and China led 2-0. 

"My wrist was aching since a couple of days ago, and I did not get enough rest in such a tight schedule, thus I just can not keep fighting in the match," said Feng after the match. 

The 20-year-old Wang Manyu was dominated in the third match against her component Wei Ruixuan 11-4, 11-7 and hit a beautiful backspin winner to grab the game 11-5 and seal the victory. 

Chinese girls will play against Japan, who defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0, on Tuesday night.