by Ian Marshall ITTF Publications Manager

However, at the start of the contest, it appeared that Yu Mengyu held the answers. It seemed she had found a way to combat the Indian blocking style of play from the long pimpled rubber on the backhand combined with controlled attacking play from the forehand.

She established a 6-1 lead; it was at that stage, the total ethos of the contest changed. Yu Mengyu won just one more point. The early advantage was with Manika Batra, it was an advantage on which she built; the second game secured, she never looked back.

“I feel very proud to have won and even more proud to have won for India. My aim was to win a gold medal for India and I did it! Here at the Commonwealth Games it is the best table tennis I have ever played. I have never played better. In the first game I was down 6-1; I said to myself I can recover and win and I did.” Manika Batra

Defeat for Singapore but in the bronze medal match it was success. Feng Tianwei, the winner in both New Delhi in 2010 and four years ago in Glasgow beat Canada’s Zhang Mo (11-2, 11-7, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3) to secure the third step of the podium.

A third consecutive Commonwealth Games for Feng Tianwei but is it her last?

“I lost the third and fourth games because my Zhang Mo played more positively. Playing Zhang Mo you must be strong with the first attack. I’m pleased to win bronze but overall I’m disappointed. I think this is my last Commonwealth Games.” Feng Tianwei

Bronze for Feng Tianwei, gold for Manika Batra, for Yu Mengyu silver yet again; she was the runner up in both New Delhi and Glasgow.