Paris 2024: Battling Zeng Jian exits Olympics after courageous loss

By Patrick Johnston

Singaporean paddler Zeng Jian threatened an upset at the Olympic table tennis on Wednesday before narrowly succumbing to talented Indian Sreeja Akula in the women’s singles. 

World number 25 Akula relied on a blistering forehand to prevail 4-2 (9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10) in their last 32 clash at the South Paris Arena.

"I feel that she has improved a lot and quickly over the past year," Zeng told reporters. "She has also risen in the rankings."

Singapore's Zeng Jian stretches to hit a forehand against Sreeja Akula in the table tennis women singles last 32 at the 2024 Paris Games.  Photo: Sport Singapore/Jeremy Lee

For Zeng, the scores don’t tell the full story of a display full of promise as she looked set to follow up her 4-3 win over Croatia's Ivana Malobabic in the opening round.

The world number 52 had game point to go 2-0 up on Wednesday but just missed with a backhand slice as Akula reeled off three straight points to steal the second game.

The Indian paddler, using a long pimple rubber, took confidence and her topspin forehand began to cause real problems as she took a 3-1 lead.

“I struggled with the short and long shots she played," Zeng, 27, added. "I couldn't really adjust well until the fifth game."

This was the second head-to-head meeting between Zeng Jian and Sreeja Akula in the table tennis women singles last 32 at the 2024 Paris Games.  Photo: Sport Singapore/Jeremy Lee

But the reigning SEA Games champion did adjust very well. With skill and determination, she dragged herself back into the contest, taking the fifth game 12-10 when Akula netted a backhand.

Zeng’s momentum carried on through the sixth game where she blocked well and forced errors with pressure to set up a game point to make it 3-3 and take the contest to a decider.

However, Akula’s powerful forehand proved Zeng’s undoing once again as the Indian produced another three straight points to take the game and the match.

"Competing at the games gave me a feeling I've never had before...this is the kind of environment that will amplify your weaknesses," said Zeng, who won two golds at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. "This Olympics has given me a lot of lessons to take away."

Zhou Jingyi gets ready to receive serve in her women's singles Olympic table tennis last 64 match against Romanian Bernadette Szocs at the Paris Olympics.  Photo: SNOC/Kong Chong Yew

The defeat ended Singapore’s interest in table tennis at the Paris Games, but, as Zeng noted, the competition offered a fantastic experience for the three competitors who were all making their debut at this level.

As well as Zeng, 19-year-old Zhou Jingyi entered the women’s singles in Paris and showed her potential by causing a number of problems early on for Romania's world number 10 Bernadette Szocs before losing 4-1.

There was also a lot of promise shown by 18-year-old Izaac Quek, who already has three SEA Games golds to his name. Izaac took the first set in his men’s singles last 64 clash with Slovenia's Darko Jorgic that ended in a 4-2 defeat for the Singaporean.

Izaac Quek stretches to his a forehand in his men's singles Olympic table tennis last 64 clash against Slovenia's Darko Jorgic at the Paris Olympics.  Photo: SNOC/Kong Chong Yew

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games takes place in Paris, France from 26 July to 11 August 2024. 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.