Fu Mingtian - Singaporean Professional

[Loh]

Fu ends the jinx

by Low Lin Fhoong 04:46 AM Aug 29, 2011

SINGAPORE - Shuttler Fu Mingtian ended her four-year title drought yesterday at the US$50,000 (S$60,150) Vietnam Grand Prix Open 2011 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Japan's Kaori Imabeppu in the women's singles final in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ranked 41st in the world, the 21-year-old Singaporean stormed to a 21-18 lead in the first game before her Japanese opponent (No 49) rallied to clinch the second 21-16. But Fu, who last won an international singles title at the 2007 Ballarat International & Australian Junior Championships, steadied her nerves in the rubber to post a 21-8 victory.

In a telephone interview last night, Fu said: "It was not an easy match to win, but I feel I played really well today. I'm very happy to win a title for the first time after a long while, and it will give me confidence in the lead-up to the SEA Games in November."

But team-mates Yao Lei and Shinta Mulia Sari were not as lucky in their bid for the women's doubles title, as the second-seeds were routed 2-0 (23-21, 26-24) by Indonesians Anneke Feinya Agustin and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari, the fifth seeds.

The Singapore men's doubles pair of Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Chayut Triyachart also lost their final, going down 21-12, 16-21, 21-19 in 45 minutes to the Indonesian duo of Angga Pratama and Ryan Agung Saputra.


Fu climbs to next level

The Straits Times
August 29 2011

Singapore shuttler wins first women's singles title on the Grand Prix stage

By Lin Xinyi

Singapore shuttler Fu Mingtian claimed the biggest victory of her career at the Yonex Sunrise Vietnam Grand Prix Open yesterday.

The world No.41 defeated Japan's Kaori Imabeppu 21-18, 16-21, 21-8 to win her first women's singles title at the Grand Prix level.

"The last time I won a title was long time ago," said fu, who had won a couple of international series events - a tier lower than Grand Prix events - in 2007.

"This feels special. It's a small break through for me."

The US$50,000 (S$60,150) Vietnam Open might be a third-tier event on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) calendar, behind the Super Series and BWF events like the Olympics and World Championships. But it attracted a 48-strong field, including Japan's Sayaka Sato (N0.17) and Ai Goto (No.24) and Chinese Taipei's Tzu Ying-Tai (No.19).

"Mingtian was not even expected to get through to the quarter-finals, so for her to win it is beyond our expectations," said Singapore Badminton Association chief executive Bobby Lee in a telephone interview from Ho Chih Minh City.

The player, who was unseeded, also admitted that she had not expected to go deep into the tournament. But, once she made the final, she found the self-belief to go all the way.

Despite a blip in the second game, Fu - a cousin of China's former Olympic and world diving champion Fu Mingxia - stormed back to defeat her opponent, who is ranked eight places below her.

"Towards the end of the second game, I started to rush things because I was so eager to win," said the 21-year-old Hubei native, who came to Singapore in 2004 under the Foreign Talent Scheme.

"I was more steady in the third game and managed to get into a good lead. That helped me to loosen up and go for my shots."

Profile Gender : Female (now 21) BirthDate:27/06/1990 Height( m /in):1.65/5'4'' Weight ( Kg /lbs):55/121 Formerly from Hubei, China Foreign Talent scouted and came to Singapore in 2004 Interests : I like surfing the internet, shopping and watching movies with friends
"I was looking for a sport to keep fit and healthy. Badminton fit the bill and I have been playing it since 1997."

[Loh]

Fu Mingtian down higher-ranked opponent Larisa Griga

Published on Aug 8, 2011
By May Chen


SINGAPORE'S shuttler Fu Mingtian needed just 30 minutes to down her higher-ranked opponent Larisa Griga of Ukraine on Monday in the opening round of the World Championships.

The world No. 48 defeated Griga (No. 29) 21-10, 21-10 at the Wembley Arena Indoor Stadium, the same venue that will host the London Olympics next year. Fu, 21, will play world No. 4 Jiang Yanjiao of China on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, mixed doubles pair of Chayut Triyachart and Yao Lei came back from a game down to take their opening match against Switzerland's Anthony Dumartheray and Sabrina Jaquet 17-21, 21-12, 21-6.

They play Thailand's world No. 2 pair of Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam next.

[george@chongwei]

Come on.. More pics of her please

[Loh]

Come on.. More pics of her please

I wish I was at HCMC to take some pics of her.

[cobalt]

A couple I found.....
This is at the Vietnam Open where she won the WS title:


An older one....

[Loh]

Oh no, not the first pic! I think that must be a Japanese player.

The second pic is the real Fu when she was around maybe 16?

[cobalt]

Oh no, not the first pic! I think that must be a Japanese player.

The second pic is the real Fu when she was around maybe 16?

Yeah, sorry about that! I realised it only much later, when it was too late to delete that pic...

[Loh]

Yeah, sorry about that! I realised it only much later, when it was too late to delete that pic...

No problem, but you should see Fu in person! She is strikingly fair and beautiful! That's why our young man asks for more pics of her.

[Loh]

I managed to locate some pics of Fu from my own album when she played Wang ShiXian in R1 of the Singapore Open this year. As expected Fu lost to the World No.1 (?)

[madbad]

Fu ends the jinx

by Low Lin Fhoong 04:46 AM Aug 29, 2011

But team-mates Yao Lei and Shinta Mulia Sari were not as lucky in their bid for the women's doubles title, as the second-seeds were routed 2-0 (23-21, 26-24) by Indonesians Anneke Feinya Agustin and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari, the fifth seeds.

How does a tight 23-21, 26-24 margin constitute a rout?

[madbad]

No problem, but you should see Fu in person! She is strikingly fair and beautiful! That's why our young man asks for more pics of her.

Hehe, I'll take the vanquished semi-finalist Hwang Hye Youn any day

[SibugiChai]

She is pretty. Hope she can get into top 10

[Loh]

How does a tight 23-21, 26-24 margin constitute a rout?

I must say I was rather disappointed with that naughty word. It is uncalled for and I hope our young reporter will strive to learn and use a more reasonable description.

[Loh]

Hehe, I'll take the vanquished semi-finalist Hwang Hye Youn any day

Hahaha, you're asking for trouble for you have the mad and bad competitor as your fierce rival.

But as they say "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

[madbad]

I must say I was rather disappointed with that naughty word. It is uncalled for and I hope our young reporter will strive to learn and use a more reasonable description.

I don't think this reporter really understood the term he/she had used. But of more concern is why the editor(s) didn't pick up on this?

The reporting in The Star is particularly annoying. If you read their articles enough, you'll see them recycle a few phrases and terms like they're going out of fashion. Lazy, sloppy journalism. Can I even call it journalism?

[Justin L]

How does a tight 23-21, 26-24 margin constitute a rout?

Agree with you, what "routed"? Such a close match that could go either way with both games into many deuces. Maybe the journalist knows nothing about badminton and simply, carelessly and lazily, used a standard phrase.

[AlanY]

I must say I was rather disappointed with that naughty word. It is uncalled for and I hope our young reporter will strive to learn and use a more reasonable description.

that's nothing. some of your neighbours might call it a white wash!