06/17/2012        GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour, Brazil Open

The runner up one week earlier in Japan, one week later in Santos it was one step higher on the medal podium at the close of proceedings.

Korea’s Kim Kyungah, now 35 years old and one of the world’s most experienced players, won the the Women’s Singles title at the GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour Brazil Open in Santos on Sunday 17th June.

In the Japanese city Kobe the elegant and text-book defensive skills had been breached by Spain's Shen Yanfei, in Santos they stood firm.

Fifth Final
Seeded no.4, she beat Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, the no.2 seed, at the final hurdle (6-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6).

It was the fifth Women’s Singles final of the year on the GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour for Kim Kyungah and her third win.

Earlier in the year she won in Spain and Chile; whilst in addition to Japan, she was the runner up in Kuwait.

Patience
Patience was the order of the day for Feng Tianwei; she captured the first game before losing a close second; in the third it was step by step, sheer hard work.

She established a lead. Kim Kyungah reduced the arrears to one point at 9-8; Feng Tianwei called “Time Out”; the pause eventually proved valid. Feng Tianwei won the point and was one game to the good.

Mental and Physical Battle
It was both a severe mental and physical battle for Feng Tianwei; long gruelling points were the order of the day.

In recent years the attacking skills of Kim Kyungah have improved, the forehand drive is effective but when crisis looms, Kim Kyungah resorts the area of play where she enjoys the greatest comforts.

She defends; it was that stonewall defence that enabled her to win the fourth game and level matters.

Momentum Shift
Winning the fourth game had swayed matters in favour of Kim Kyungah, she establish a 7-3 lead in the fifth game.

Feng Tianwei reduced the arrears to two points at 9-7: Kim Kyungah called “Time Out”; it proved a wise move. Kim Kyungah lost just one more point in the game.

Ascendancy
Kim Kyungah was no in the ascendancy; in the sixth game she made the better start; at 10-5, she held match point.

At the first attempt she converted and secured victory to clinch her eighth Tour Women’s Singles title a decade after winning her first in Japan in 2002.