Talented youngsters display potential in table tennis championship

By Y.P. SIVAM

The Selangor Table Tennis Association (STTA) is convinced that they had groomed young and promising players for the future.

STTA deputy president Han Kee Juan said they were pleased with their juniors’ performance in the Milo-Malaysian Youth table tennis championships held in Klang recently.

“We may not have dominated the championships. But our young players showed their potential in both the Under-15 and Under-17 age groups. For instance, the players, who featured in the Under-15 age group, are eligible to play in the same age group for the next two to three years.

“Some of them are only 11 and they managed to make an impact in the Under-15 age group. The others managed to finish among quarter-finalists. It is all the result of STTA’s year-long development programmes,’’ said Han.

Swift: Selangor’s Lee Rou You returning a shot in the final.

In the four-day championships, Selangor won the team and singles titles in the girls’ Under-15 age group.

In the team event, Selangor defeated Malacca 3-1 while Lee Rou You was involved in a marathon battle with Perak’s Liew Yong Xuan before winning 9-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 for the singles’ gold medal.

Selangor State Sports Council (MSNS) deputy chairman Amiruddin Shari, who was present for the finals and prize- giving ceremony, was impressed with the STTA’s development programmes.

“I am happy to see youngsters active in table tennis. The juniors showed excellent skills and the STTA should be commended for their vision,’’ said Amiruddin.

Meanwhile, the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) has picked 10 players, from each of the four categories, for a selection trial.

TTAM executive director Soong Poh Wah said the players would be called up for trials in March next year.

Yes!: Sarawak’s Kueh Wan May raises her hand after winning the girls’ Under-17 title.

The TTAM will be taking part in the South-East Asia Junior championships next year. It will also be a qualifying tournament for the Asian Junior championships.

“We have to finish among the top two in the South-East Asia Junior championships to qualify for the Asian Junior. Then we have the Asian Youth Games in Singapore in July 2009.

“All the events are for the Under-17 age group. So the players picked from the Malaysia Youth Championships have a bright chance to make it to the Malaysian team.

“They should continue training and we hope to see them in good form in the trials,’’ said Soong.

Pahang will host next year’s Milo-Malaysia Youth table tennis championships.

Results (all finals)

Under-15

Boys

Team: Kuala Lumpur bt Kedah 3-2

Singles: Lim Cheak Yang (Ked) bt Goh Nai Ngee (Kul)10-11, 11-10, 5-11, 11-8, 11-10. 8-11, 11-7

Unity: Muhammad Ashraf Haigal Rizal (Ked) bt Wan Mohamed Shahril Afiq Wan Fatah (Kel) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5.

Top 10: Lim Cheak Yang (Ked), Goh Nai Hgee (Kul), Foo Dunley (Sel), Tan Yi Zhi (Sel), Chee Kian Ee (Put), Foh Zhen Liu (Kul), Lim Hung Wei (Sar), Mohamed Khairil Asri Bahruddin (Ked), Muhammad Ashraf Haiqal Rizal (Ked), Hiew Weng Keat (Kul)

Girls

Team: Selangor bt Malacca 3-1

Singles: Lee Rou You (Sel) bt Liew Yong Xuan (Prk) 9-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9

Unity: Norhidayah Yusof (Sab) bt Nurismie Handisah Rohan (Sab)11-8, 6-11, 11-4, 13-11,11-10.

Top 10: Liew Yong Xuan (Prk), Lee Rou You (Sel), Wendy Lau Jun Zhen (Sar), Chew Shu Ting (Mal), Lin Ann Er (Sel), Lim Jia Jia (Sel), Loh Qiao Wen (Sab), Teoh Ke Shuang (Pg) Low Poi Luan (Kul), Ong May Gie (Kul)

Under-17:

Boys

Team: Sarawak bt Sabah 3-2

Singles: Lee Ing Jiang (Pg) bt Matteus Aloysius (Sar)11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7

Unity: Matteus Aloysius(Sar) bt Mohamed Hafirul Hsddim (Ked)11-6, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7.

Top 10: Matteus Aloysius (Sar), Lee Ing Jiang (Pg), Nicholas Chin Tzen Khiong (Sab), Chan Chee Yang (Sab), Chai Kiang Peng (Sar), Cheong Tiong Leong (Kul), Ng William (Kul), Aang Eng Keat (Pg), Choo Chin Wei (Joh), Lee Wai Hang (Sar)

Girls

Team: Sarawak bt Kedah 3-2

Singles: Kueh Wan May(Sar) bt Gam Gaik Ping(Ked) 3-11, 11-0, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-3

Top 10: Kueh Wan May (Sar), Gam Gaik Ping (Ked), Foh Mei Ting (Kul), Lee Shi Hui (Ked), Yap Pei Ching (Prk), See Iu Xiuan (Sel), Wong Hui Qi (Pg), yau Pic Ling (Nse), Tan Ker Sin (Ked), Lee Jia Sin (Pg).