Singapore paddler Feng Tianwei said she is confident of giving her best in the singles semi-final of the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Women's World Cup in Philadelphia.
Feng progressed to the last-four stages after outclassing Germany paddler Sabine Winter 4-0 in a hard-fought battle on Saturday. After clinching the first game with ease, the Singaporean was made to work hard by her opponent.
However, Feng successfully fended off the stiff challenge and took the match 11-7, 15-13, 13-11, 11-9 in the quarter-finals. The top seed now has a good opportunity to win her maiden world cup and better her previous records as China's top two players, including defending champion Liu Shiwen, have reportedly pulled out of the tournament.
Feng came close to winning the cup in 2008 and 2013 editions but had to settle for a bronze on both the occasions. The London Olympics bronze-medallist, however, appears determined in the ongoing tournament after beginning the campaign with an easy 4-0 win over Egyptian Dina Meshref.
The world number six will face Japan's Miu Hirano in the semi-final on Sunday (3am SGT, Monday). Feng, after having a testing quarter-final, opined her semi-final clash will also be a tough one.
"I was able to stay focused right from the start of the match, and adjust fast to Winter's aggressive style of play. Tomorrow's semi-final match is going to be a very tough one. I hope that I will be able to play my best level tomorrow," Feng told ITTF, as quoted by The Straits Times.
Notably, Feng lost in the quarter-final of the 2016 Rio Olympics to Miu's compatriot Ai Fukuhara 4-0.
