by Ian Marshall, Editor
Represented by Pang Yew En Koen, Ethan Poh Shao Feng and Clarence Chew, Singapore secured the Men’s Team title in convincing style, not one individual match was surrendered en route to the top step of the podium.
First place in the initial phase group gained, after accounting for Thailand’s Purit Vevakultawan, Tananan Tantakool and Thyme Sanglertsilpachai, the title was won at the final expense of the Malaysian outfit formed by Leong Chee Feng, Wong Qi Shen and Christopher Isaac Goh Kho.
A silver medal for Malaysia but it was hard earned; in the penultimate round they had been extended the full five match distance by Indonesia’s Deepash Bhagwani, Parkani Luki and Rahmat Pakaya. The backbone of the Malaysian victory being Leong Chee Feng; he accounted for Deepash Bhagwani (11-8, 18-16, 14-12) and Parkani Luki (11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7), the one further win for Malaysia was recorded in the vital fifth match of the fixture by Wong Qi Shen. He overcame Deepash Bhagwani (11-6, 12-10, 11-6).
Hitting the gong five times signaled the start of the tournament (Photo: courtesy of Rachel Ramos)
Gold for Singapore in the Men’s Team event, the top prize was also reserved in the Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles events.
Clarence Chew won the Men’s Singles title; an event in which Singapore provided all four medallists. He accounted for colleague Pang Yew En Koen in the final by the very narrowest of margins (3-11, 13-15, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10), after having overcome Lucas Tan in the penultimate round, a contest that produced a quite titanic deciding game (11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 7-11, 19-17). Rather less dramatically, in the corresponding semi-final, Pang Yew En Koen ended the hopes of Ethan Poh Shao Feng (11-7, 11-8, 11-8, 15-13).
A tradition Balinese dance highlighted the opening ceremony (Photo: courtesy of Rachel Ramos)
Success for Clarence Chew in the Men’s Singles event, in the Women’s Singles competition it was success for Go Rui Xuan. Similarly, Singapore provided all four semi-finalists. Go Rui Xuan reserved the top step of the podium at the expense of Wong Xin Ru (11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6), having in the penultimate round overcome Eunice Zoe Lim (11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-7). In the adjacent semi-final, Go Rui Xuan had ousted Koh Kai Kin (11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 10-12, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4).
Silver and bronze for Pang Yew En Koen and Ethan Poh Shao Feng respectively in the Men’s Singles event; in the Men’s Doubles competition, together it was gold. After having ousted Indonesia’s Deepash Bhagwani and Rahmat Pakaya (11-8, 11-8, 11-8), they overcame Malaysia’s Leong Chee Feng and Wong Qi Shen to seal the title (11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7). In the opposite half of the draw, Leong Chee Feng and Wong Qi Shen had reserved their place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to Lucas Tan and Singaporean colleague, Gerald Yu Zong Jun (11-8, 11-9, 17-15).
The podium in the Men’s Singles event; Singapore supreme (left to right) Pang Yew En Koen, Clarence Chew, Ethan Poh Shao Feng and Lucas Tan (Photo: courtesy of Singapore Table Tennis Association)
Four titles for Singapore, the fifth came in the Mixed Doubles event; Pang Yew En Koen and Goi Rui Xan emerged the winners accounting for colleagues Ethan Poh Shao Feng and Wong Xin Ru in the final 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-9). At the semi-final stage both pairs had ended the hopes of the Philippines. Pang Yew En Koen and Goi Rui Xan had ousted Johan Elijah Chars and Dianne Sy Jamaica (11-6, 11-7, 11-2); Ethan Poh Shao Feng and Wong Xin Ru had ended the hopes of Rodney Jacolo Ryan and Rose Dael Emy (8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-9).
Success upon success for Singapore, for Malaysia their success came in the Women’s Team and Women’s Doubles events.
Play in action in Bali (Photo: courtesy of Rachel Ramos)
Selecting Karen Lyne, Alice Chang and Ho Ying, a three-nil win in opposition to Thailand’s Naja Mekamporn, Thapanee Pormma and Thanath Choosattayanond was recorded to secure the Women’s Team title, after both teams had been extended the full five match distance in the penultimate round.
Malaysia had been stretched to the limit by Singapore’s Wong Xin Ru, Eunice Lim and Goi Rui Xuan; the heroine being Alice Chang. In the opening match of the fixture she beat Wong Xin Ru (11-6, 11-5, 11-7), before in the decisive fifth match of the engagement overcoming Eunice Lim by the very narrowest of margins (12-14, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10). The one further success for Malaysia was recorded in the third match of the engagement when Karen Lyne had beaten Goi Rui Xuan in a five games contest (12-10, 9-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3).
Likewise in the counterpart semi-final against the Philippines trio formed by Rose Dael Emy, Jean Fado Rose and Dianne Sy Jamaica, provided a testing experience for the eventual silver medallists. Thailand trailed by two matches to nil before mounting a recovery to secure victory. Eventual star of the show was Thapanee Pormma, in the vital fifth match of the engagement she overcame Jean Fado Rose (11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8).
Singapore provided all four Women’s Singles medallists (left to right) Wong Xinru, Goi Ruixuan, Eunice Lim, Pearlyn Koh (Photo: courtesy of Singapore Table Tennis Association)
The top step of the podium in the Women’s Team event for Ho Ying and Karen Lyne, it was the same in the Women’s Doubles competition where they joined forces to secure gold. At the final hurdle they beat Singapore’s Tan En Hui and Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin (8-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-6), having in the penultimate round caused Singapore more pain by overcoming Goi Rui Xuan and Wong Xin Ru by the very narrowest of decisions (11-4, 3-11, 4-11, 11-6, 15-13).
In the opposite half of the draw, Tan En Hui and Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin had halted the aspirations of Alice Chang and Malaysian colleague, Li Ying Im (11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4).
A total of 27 men and 24 women competed; the national associations represented being Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
The Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, the venue for the 2019 Asian Championships (Photo: courtesy of Rachel Ramos)
2018 South East Championships: Roll of Honour & Results (Sunday 18th November)