Table tennis: Singapore women's team book place in world championships quarter-final

Singapore's Yu Mengyu returns a shot against France's Audrey Zarif during their match in the women's team championship division group C at the 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Tokyo on May 1, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP
Singapore's Yu Mengyu returns a shot against France's Audrey Zarif during their match in the women's team championship division group C at the 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Tokyo on May 1, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

The national women's table tennis team sealed their fifth consecutive victory in the group stage of the World Team Table Tennis Championships on Thursday, beating France 3-1.

The result means the team finish top of Group C and will get a bye into the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Having earned a crucial win against third seeds South Korea a day earlier, coach Jing Junhong made the decision to change the team's line-up, putting world No. 7 Feng Tianwei in third singles to rest Singapore's top paddler.

Yu Mengyu took the lead instead, winning her match against Audrey Zarif easily. The world No. 18 beat her No. 148 opponent 11-4, 11-3, 11-4.

Isabelle Li, however, failed to get past Laura Gasnier despite a good start off the blocks. She lost 11-3, 6-11, 7-11, 7-11.

Feng then edged out Carole Grundisch in a close encounter, winning 13-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-4. Yu wrapped up the tie with a 13-15, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 victory over Gasnier.

Both Feng and Yu remain unbeaten at the championships so far.

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