Hangzhou 2022: More than just a medal for Singapore’s Xiangqi

By Jeremiah Ong

On the penultimate day of Asian Games competition, Team Singapore still had room for one more medal as SEA Games champion Ngo Lan Huong beat Vietnam’s Nguyen Hoang Yen in her seventh and final match on Saturday (Oct 7) to claim a historic bronze.

This marked Singapore's first xiangqi medal at the Asiad.

“It means a lot to the Xiangqi Association of Singapore, we were really hoping for this medal and I am very touched by her performance,” said Team Manager Benny Chow, who choked up when speaking about Ngo’s medal-winning performance.

“Everyone is hungry for this medal as it will (raise) the significance of this mind sport. I hope (that) this medal can help to promote this mind sport in Singapore, and the younger generation will get in touch with this game.”

Ngo beat Nguyen in her final match to earn bronze in the women’s individual event. (Photo: SNOC/ Kelly Wong)

The former Asian Champion represented Singapore at the 2010 edition, when Xiangqi was last part of the programme and came a close fourth then. 

But this time, Ngo would not leave empty–handed.

“I am very happy to bring home a medal for Singapore.

“The key (to getting bronze) was winning the last game, I had to win the last game, I couldn’t afford to draw or lose. So it was important to play well,” she said.

Playing their final do-or-die match at the Hangzhou Qi-Yuan (Zhili) Chess Hall, the pair’s encounter was somewhat poetic, having opened their tournament against each other in the mixed team last Thursday (Sep 28).

Then, Ngo also got the better of her opponent with a win but Nguyen went on to take team silver after the four-day long team competition.

On the matchup, Ngo said: “(My opponent) had to go for the win today as well because she also had a chance at bronze, so both sides were attacking and no one was playing for a draw.

“When you attack you need to spend a lot of time thinking, so maybe towards the end both sides ran out of time and my opponent couldn’t think of the best moves to make so I grabbed my opportunity.”

Her run to the bronze medal match saw her dispatch Thai opponent Suratsada Promsirinimit, compatriot Fiona Tan, Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Phi Liem. She settled for a draw with eventual silver medallist Wang Linna and Malaysian Jee Xin Ru, her only loss coming against eventual gold medallist Zuo Wenjing of China.

In the mixed team event, the team took fifth place with two wins (Macau, Thailand), one draw (Chinese Taipei) and two losses (Vietnam, China).

“Knowing we (would be) facing a lot of strong teams from Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, Macau and (Chinese) Taipei, we targeted a silver in mixed team and bronze in singles. For the mixed team because of some performance issues and (because) we faced very strong contenders, we missed out in some of the games, hence we didn’t get a medal. “

Woo beat Macau’s Kam Kin Hei in the fifth round of the men’s individual event. (Photo: SNOC/ Kelly Wong)

In the men’s individual, Low Yi Hao finished fourth after three wins, three draws and one loss, while SEA Games gold medallist Alvin Woo came 10th with three wins, one draw and three losses.

Singapore’s other representative in the women’s individual was SEA Games bronze medallist Fiona Tan, who came eleventh with three wins, one draw and three losses.

Tan beat Thailand’s Nattharinee Srivachirawat in round four of the women’s individual event. (Photo: SNOC/ Kelly Wong)

The 19th Asian Games are held in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October 2023. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.