Republic's paddlers crash out in Suzhou

SINGAPORE - Singapore paddlers competing at the Harmony Open had a day to forget in Suzhou, China on Saturday after they were all eliminated at the quarter-final stage for all events.

Despite winning her Round-of-16 match against North Korea's Ri Mi Gyong by a 4-0 (7-11, 8-11, 5-11, 8-11) scoreline in the afternoon, Feng Tianwei was the Republic's biggest casualty of the day on Saturday evening when the world No. 4 was beaten in straight sets by China's world No. 9 Wu Yang (13-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-3).

In the morning, Feng (above) and world No. 29 Yu Mengyu suffered a shock defeat in the women's doubles quarter-finals when they were beaten 3-2 (11-7, 14-12, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8) by unfancied North Korean duo Kim Hye Song and Kim Jong, who are ranked 108th and 59th in the world.

The Republic's male paddlers also suffered the same fate in the doubles as Gao Ning and Li Hu lost 3-1 (9-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-7) to South Korea's Jung Young Sik and Kim Min Seok while Yang Zi and Zhan Jian crashed to a 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-8) defeat at the hands of China's world No. 1 and 2 duo of Ma Long and Xu Xin.

While Gao Ning later exacted revenge on Kim in the men's singles Round of 16 (5-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-2, 5-11, 5-11, 4-11) as Zhan Jian also bounced back with a win over South Korean Joo Sae Hyuk (8-11, 11-7, 14-16, 9-11, 9-11), both Singaporean paddlers could not advance beyond the last eight.

Gao Ning was dispatched 4-1 (11-8, 11-4, 11-3, 11-13, 11-7) by Ma Long before Zhan Jian completed the Republic's miserable day in a 4-2 defeat (13-11, 6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 8-11, 6-11) by Xu Xin.

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