SEA Games: Singapore bag first gold medal of Games in table tennis doubles upset

Singapore got its first gold medal at the 28th SEA Games from Lin Ye and Zhou Yihan, who won the table tennis women's doubles on Tuesday night. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 
Singapore got its first gold medal at the 28th SEA Games from Lin Ye and Zhou Yihan, who won the table tennis women's doubles on Tuesday night. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 

SINGAPORE - Team Singapore got its first gold medal at the 28th SEA Games from Lin Ye and Zhou Yihan, who won the table tennis women's doubles on Tuesday night.

They beat their more fancied counterparts, Feng Tianwei, a 2008 and 2012 Olympic medallist, and Yu Mengyu 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 10-12, 11-7 in the all-Singapore final at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Lin said that the fact that they were considered the underdogs against their team-mates played to their advantage. She said: "We just tried to relax as much as we could to play the seventh game. We're younger and the underdogs so there was less pressure on us."

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong said after their win: "Congrats to our paddlers on winning our first SEA Games gold!

"I'm very proud of the fighting spirit and tenacity shown by our athletes so far, and also the tremendous support from Singaporeans at all the competition venues.

"Our campaign has just started and there are more exciting days ahead for us. Let's keep pushing on as One Team Singapore!"

hosr@sph.com.sg

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