PARIS: Across the net from each other, they crumbled to the ground almost simultaneously.
The Singaporean and the Japanese, the favourite and the underdog, the victor and the vanquished.
In a 62 minute epic which swung one way and then another, it was the finest of margins – two points to be precise – which separated Yeo Jia Min and Aya Ohori.
And despite a brave battle, it was Singapore’s Yeo who would taste defeat in the round of 16.
At the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, world number 20 Yeo stretched her opponent but lost 21-11, 14-21, 22-24 to the world number 10. This meant she was eliminated from the Paris Olympics.
“I’m sad that I couldn’t get the win for Singapore today,” said a crestfallen Yeo, who had been up 20-19 in the final game.
“I wasn’t really tired (when I fell to the ground at the end), it was more like disappointment. Maybe I wanted it too much and then I couldn’t control my emotions.”
Before Thursday, Yeo had faced Ohori three times in her career and had never beaten the Japanese player. Her last meeting with Ohori was in March this year.
“I always go on court and believe that I can win. This time I was also in better shape and my injury was not holding me back,” said Yeo. “I knew I had some chance (in this game).”