Have A Go Olympic Challenge 2024

HAVE A GO AT OLYMPIC SPORTS

FIND YOUR SPORT
Background image

Lay focuses on team event and future

 

Lay focuses on team event and future

Author image
AOC
Lay focuses on team event and future
Australia's highest ranked female table tennis player Jian Fang Lay has been knocked out of the singles tournament.

TABLE TENNIS: Australia's highest ranked and most capped female table tennis player Jian Fang Lay has been knocked out of the singles tournament by the world number 13 player.

Lay faced off against Singapore's Mengyu Yu on Sunday evening at Riocentro Pavillion 3, going down in straight sets.

This is Lay's fifth Olympic appearance, equalling beach volleyballer Natalie Cook's record for the most Games representing Australia by a female at the Olympic Games.

Lay is yet to decide if she will continue to play table tennis competitively, but predicts she has made her final Olympic draw.

"Yes, maybe (she would finish on an Olympic appearance)," she said.

"I don't know if I will continue... maybe not."

Yu dominated from the start leading the game on all but three occasions.

Lay bowed out in straight sets: 9-11, 9-11, 6-11, 10-12.

Yu's level of attack came as no surprise to Lay who expected a battle before her.

"I have lost to her two times before including the last game in Glasgow (Commonwealth Games 2014).

"She's very tough but I just tried."

By making the third round Lay equalled Australia's best Olympic table tennis campaign achieved by William Henzel at London in 2012.

She now goes on to play in the women's team event with Melissa Tapper and Sally Zhang beginning with preliminary round on Thursday from 10am.

Lay was the last remaining Australian competitor in the singles event.

Candice Keller
olympics.com.au 

MORE ON SUMMER
Top Stories