by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Notably, to date Feng Tianwei has competed in twice the number as her closest female rival, Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa. She has been present five times; Feng Tianwei has competed in every Grand Finals Women’s Singles event since her debut in 2007 in Beijing.

Additionally she has been present in the Women’s Doubles event at the Grand Finals, five times, partnering Yu Mengyu on four of those occasions and once Wang Yuegu.

Furthermore, in both events she has enjoyed success. In 2010 Seoul she won the Women’s Singles title, two years later in Hangzhou she partnered Yun Mengyu to Women’s Doubles gold.

Overall in addition to the success in Seoul, she has been three times a Women’s Singles quarter-finalist, three times a semi-finalist but in recent years, as on debut in Beijing it has been an opemng round exit. In both Lisbon in 2015 and last year in Qatar it was farewell at the first round.

Additionally, although winning the Women’s Singles title at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Korea Open, Feng Tianwei did not qualify for the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals Women’s World Cup, she departed in the early stages at the ITTF-Asian Cup in Ahmedabad.

Also notable, is despite being a bronze medallist in partnership with Yu Mengyu at the Liebherr 2018 World Championships, the duo finished in 18th place on the ITTF World Tour Women’s Doubles Standings and did not make the four tournament appearance criteria required for qualification.

It has been a year of differing fortunes for Feng Tianwei; can it end on a bright note?