'Greatest National Day gift': Former Singapore table tennis star Yu Mengyu welcomes twins

Former Singapore table tennis player Yu Mengyu, 36, may have spent years competing on the world stage, but her biggest win yet came on Thursday (Aug 6), three days before National Day, when she gave birth to twins.

Sharing the news on Instagram on Sunday (Aug 9), Yu described the arrival of her two children as the "greatest gift".

"A new chapter, times two. Our greatest National Day gift," she wrote. 

The photos showed the twins wrapped in swaddling clothes bearing the letters "KK", suggesting they were born at KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

The twins, a boy and a girl were named Asher and Amelia, reported The Straits Times.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News on Sunday, Yu said she underwent a scheduled caesarean section for the birth.

Singapore Table Tennis Association took to Facebook to congratulate Yu and extend its well wishes.

"From representing Singapore on the world's biggest stages to embarking on this wonderful new chapter, we are thrilled to see Mengyu embracing the joys of motherhood," said the association. 

"Wishing Mengyu, the twins and the family good health, happiness and many precious moments together!"

Born in Liaoning, China, Yu moved to Singapore at 17 and received her Singapore citizenship in 2007, before representing the country.

She went on to become a key member of Singapore's women's table tennis team and represented the country at two Olympic Games.

At the Tokyo 2020 Games, Yu won Singaporean hearts after fighting through an injury in her semi-final against China's eventual gold medallist Chen Meng, before finishing fourth in the singles event.

Yu announced her retirement from competitive table tennis in 2022.

During her career, Yu won 10 medals at the SEA Games and five at the Commonwealth Games, among other achievements. She was also part of the Singapore team which stunned China to win the world championships in 2010.

It is understood that her husband is also a China-born Singaporean.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Yu mengyu (@yu_mengyu.818)

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xingying.koh@asiaone.com