Feng Tianwei beats world’s no. 1 after being dropped from STTA

Singapore’s top table-tennis player Feng Tianwei has gone on to beat world’s number one ping-pong player at the world’s biggest table tennis competition. Feng ranked at number 5 beat Ding Ning 12-10, 13-15, 2-11, 11-7, 7-5 yesterday (Dec 4) in the Chinese Super League.

Feng went on to achieve this win after being dropped from the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) in October 2016. The STTA explained that she “does not fit into the STTA’s current plans for rejuvenation”. STTA faced much backlash from several quarters of the public after unceremoniously dropping Feng.

Former PAP MP and President of STTA Ellen Lee said that “there are certain things that we think that, if revealed, may lessen our stress and backlash, but we don’t want to take that route.” She added that STTA wanted to give the player a “graceful exit”.

STTA subsequently backtracked on their decision and said that they will support the player continue pursuing her participation on the ITTF World Tour circuit and as a Team Singapore athlete, subject to specific terms and conditions being met by both parties.