Table tennis team eye 11th victory
Posted on November 30, 2011, Wednesday
FAIR DRAW: Wee (left), Hii (second from right) and Voon watch as Lai works the computer during the draw for the singles competition of the 51st Premium Ark Enterprise- Sarawak Inter-Division Table Tennis Championship. — Photo by Teo Chi Wei
KUCHING: The Kuching Division Table Tennis Association (KDTTA) are setting their sight on an 11th successive overall championship title at the 51st Sarawak Premium Ark Enterprise Inter-Division Table Tennis Championship from Dec 10 to 14.
Kuching’s working team manager Helena Wee is confident the team, comprising 55 players and 15 officials, are up to the challenge.
“It won’t be easy because the other teams are fast improving but we are confident. Our players are now working very hard at our training centre at Tai-Chi Centre along Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho,” she said after conducting the draw for singles competition.
To ensure transparency, the Chinese and English media were invited to witness the draw, involving, among others, tournament director William Lai, chief referee Joseph Hii and competitions chairman Poon Miang Jen.
About 300 players from Kuching, Samarahan, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang, will take part the championship at MBKS Indoor Stadium in Pending.
A total of 452 matches will be played and the 23 categories for the five-day event include singles and doubles for the Boys and Girls Open, Boys and Girls U-17, U-15, U-13, U-10, Men’s and Women’s Open, Veteran Men (aged 45-54), Veteran Men (aged 55 and above), Women’s Veteran Singles (aged 40 and above) and Non-Chinese.
The tournament was to have been hosted by Samarahan this year but due to certain circumstances, they were unable to do so and the job was given to Kuching.
“It’s not easy organising such a big event because of the high costs and problems of arranging for transport and accommodation. However, we managed to do it in within four months,” said Wee, the organising chairperson.
She thanked the main sponsor Datuk Yii Chee How who chipped in RM10,000, and KDTTA president Wong Tiong Hock for sponsoring a film premiere “Happy Feet 2” that raised RM20,000 in ticket sales.
Other sponsors and donors included Table Tennis Association of Sarawak (TTAS) president Michael Teo, TTAS chairman and also KDTTA honorary president Richard Wee, honorary presidents and chairmen as well as table tennis enthusiasts.
“Our president (Michael Teo) has sponsored the Tan Thiam Kee Challenge trophy in memory of his late wife and the team that wins the most gold medals will win this trophy,” Wee added.
