Singapore Table Tennis Association banking on youngsters at upcoming SEA Games

SINGAPORE – The Singapore table tennis squad will be looking to tap on youth power to end their women’s team event gold-medal drought at the upcoming Dec 9-20 SEA Games in Thailand.

Not since the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur have the women’s team returned with the title at the regional Games.

This time, the Republic will be banking on a young squad with an average age of just 20, in the bid to wrest the crown from Thailand, the women’s team champions at the last two Games.

The new-look squad will be led by the 28-year-old Zeng Jian, who recently took the scalps of two top Japanese players in world No. 9 Mima Ito and the 13th-ranked Satsuki Odo.

Joining the 40th-ranked Zeng are Ser Lin Qian, 19, and debutantes Tan Zhao Yun, 20, Chloe Lai, 18, and Loy Ming Ying, 15.

The men’s team, with an average age of 22, comprise last edition’s three-gold winner Izaac Quek, 19, veteran Clarence Chew, 29, Koen Pang, 23, Josh Chua, 23, and debutant Ellsworth Le, 16.

The line-up was announced by the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) at its media event on Nov 3 at the OCBC Arena.

Poh Li San (centre), Singapore Table Tennis Association president, and representatives of the men’s and women’s team during the Nov 3 announcement of the Team Singapore squad for the SEA Games in December.

ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO

While women’s national coach Jing Junhong described winning the team title as a “huge challenge”, the squad will be boosted by the joint-bronze outing at the Asian Table Tennis Team Championships in October.

Then, Singapore emerged as the top performing South-east Asian team.

“There will definitely be pressure… our squad previously, we had Zhou Jingyi and Wong Xin Ru, who have both left the team,” said Jing, who was in Frankfurt with Zeng and had joined the media session via Zoom.

“Luckily, the current (players) such as Ser, Tan and Ming Ying have shown their skills in the last two years, including competing at WTT (World Table Tennis) events and their bronze-medal win at the Asian championships.

“That has really given us a confidence boost. But of course, we will bring a fighting spirit and a ‘ready to learn’ attitude, especially with our younger players.

“The difficulty is definitely high, but we are not afraid and will fight, with youth as our greatest asset.”

STTA president Poh Li San said: “We’ve put in a lot of thought about our line-up this time – we have to balance a few things.

“This line-up is reflective of our STTA renewal plan.

“Our approach is to fill teams with a mix of experienced, very seasoned, senior players like Zeng Jian – who has already played at the Olympics and in many competitions around the world – with the younger players, quite a few of them debutantes at the SEA Games.”

Tan Zhao Yun will be making her debut at the SEA Games.

ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO

Tan, who played a starring role at the Asian team championships, is hoping to ride the momentum into the Games.

She said: “It’s my first time playing at the SEA Games and I definitely feel a bit nervous, but at the same time, I’m also quite excited. I hope to take this opportunity to play against the strong and experienced players.”

Izaac Quek will be defending his men’s singles, doubles and team titles at the SEA Games in Thailand.

ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO

For Quek, he is persisting with the same attitude in Thailand, even though he will be defending his men’s singles, doubles and team titles.

He added: “The last time I was a debutant with no expectations, giving my all and enjoying the Games.

“So this time, I would like to try to go in with the same mentality and try to enjoy the intensity of the major Games, as you don’t have many opportunities to represent Singapore on such a big stage.”

On what her expectations are, Poh said: “We don’t set a target because I don’t want to impose unnecessary pressure on our players, especially when it’s the first time for many of them.

“I just want them to go out there, really immerse in the competition… If we can play with humility, we play with our best effort, the results will show.”

The men’s team will next compete at the WTT feeder events in Portugal (Nov 5-9) and Poland (Nov 10-14).

They will then join up with the women for the Nov 17-22 WTT Star Contender in Muscat, Oman, before a training camp in Kaohsiung, Taiwan from Nov 23 to Dec 9.

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