After conquering world No1 Zhang Yining on Saturday, Singapore's Feng Tianwei could not go one better in the final of the Asian Cup yesterday.

She lost 0-4 to China's Guo Yue in the women's singles competition.

The steely 21-year-old had sent shockwaves across the sport when she dumped Zhang 4-2 in the quarter-finals in Sapporo, Japan.

After disposing of South Korea's Seo Hyo Won 4-1 in the semi-finals yesterday, she found herself up against Guo, the current world No3 and reigning world champion.

It proved to be a bridge too far for Feng, who was outfoxed by her opponent's fierce forehand top-spin and backhand flicks. She eventually succumbed 11-13, 6-11, 7-11, 4-11.

'It was unlucky that I lost the first set, but her game picked up,' admitted the world No20, who became a Singapore citizen in January.

'I know I played to the best of my ability and I didn't give up.'

Singapore's Li Jiawei had fallen to Guo at the semi-final stage, losing 0-4 (4-11, 5-11, 6-11, 4-11).

Li, the world No7, was unable to repeat her giant-killing feat just three weeks earlier, when she beat Guo in the opening singles of the World Team Championships.

Li later clinched third place when she beat Seo 4-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7).

But Feng's valiant performance at the US$50,000 (S$70,000) singles-only event, has raised Singapore's hopes of landing an Olympic medal at the Beijing Games, said team manager Antony Lee.

'This bodes well for our medal chances,' he said, noting that both Feng and Li have now beaten top Chinese paddlers in the same month.

'But we're not resting on our laurels, because we know that anything can happen at the Olympics.'

Feng, who won qualification to Beijing at the regional qualifier here last month, will be part of Singapore's three-pronged medal assault in the women's singles at the Olympics, joining compatriots Li and Wang Yuegu.

Wang did not appear in the tournament because of an injury.

In the men's singles, Chinese world No4 Ma Long overcame compatriot Chen Qi 4-2 (11-8, 9-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-4) in the final.

The Republic's top male paddler, Gao Ning, finished third after crushing Jun Mizutani of Japan 4-0 (11-9, 11-8, 14-12, 11-3) in the third-place play-off.

Gao was beaten 0-4 by Ma in the semi-finals yesterday.

tvoon@sph.com.sg