Table tennis: After slaving for sport, Yu Mengyu goes for master’s
SINGAPORE – For almost 30 years, Yu Mengyu’s world revolved around table tennis. For the most part, she has coped well with changes to her equipment and physical condition.
But for at least the next 12 months, she’s worried but also excited about moving to “a whole new, bigger world” after stepping down as assistant coach of the Singapore Table Tennis Association’s Junior Development Squad.
Since March 1, the 33-year-old has been completing a one-year Master of Public Administration program at Nanyang Technological University after becoming the first athlete from Singapore to receive a full scholarship from the Nanyang Center for Public Administration.
With a laugh, she told The Straits Times: “I haven’t been to a physical education school since I was elementary school so it was such a culture shock on the first day of school. I realized there was so much I didn’t know. By the time I opened my notebook to take notes, I had already lost track of what the lecturer had said.
“It’s a new challenge but I’m happy because I’m looking forward to learning new things and making new friends.”
That won’t be a problem, because the 2010 team world champion in table tennis and Olympic semi-finalist in women’s singles has already received numerous wefie requests.
“I just hope they’ll help me with my studies if I need it,” joked Liaoning-born Yu, who graduated from an online business administration major in 2018.
Perhaps she shouldn’t worry, as adaptation has always been her forte.
When she was five, her dance teacher found her uncoordinated and suggested she switch hobbies. Yu’s mother, herself an avid table tennis player, then took her to table tennis classes, where she thrived and became a provincial, but not exactly enjoying herself.
While 16-year-old Yu was competing in Beijing, her talents and potential were spotted by STTA coach Chen Yong, who invited her to join the team in Singapore. While she and her mother were intrigued by the opportunity, the switch almost didn’t happen as they were unsure if it was a scam.
Yu said, “The coach left me his phone number, but there was an extra digit, so my mother instinctively ignored the last digit and managed to determine that the offer was genuine.”
The following year, 2006, she arrived in Singapore. Three years after receiving her citizenship in 2007, she reached her career-highest place in the world No.9 rankings and was part of the team that defeated China 3-1 to become world champion.
But things didn’t go smoothly, as she had spine and shoulder injuries that left her bedridden for a month in 2014, and despite undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in her shoulder in 2016, she still feels it from time to time back pain.
Despite the ailments and a slump in the world rankings at No. 47, Yu impressed with her resilience. At the 2021 National Day rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said she was the embodiment of Singapore’s spirit after beating two top 10 opponents in Tokyo 2020.
For this reason, she did not regret having ended her playing career soon after.
It’s been 20 months since Yu played her last table tennis match in the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal play-off loss against Japan’s Mima Ito, and she already can’t remember where she kept her competition racquet.
She still loves the sport but doesn’t miss it as the pain towards the end was unbearable. “Now that I have more time, I would love to travel and try skiing,” she added.
Yu is expected to return to coaching after completing her studies. She still follows the sport and made a guest appearance at the Singapore Smash last week.
She added: “I am very keen to give back to Singapore after this training period and I hope to return to the table tennis scene with a broader perspective and network.”