BIG WINNERS: SPPA’s Ling Ching Ann (left) presents the Challenge Trophy to the representatives from Ta Ann Holdings. Looking on from second left is Chen.
SIBU: Microlink and Ta Ann Holdings cemented their reputation as the powerhouses for table tennis when both teams lifted the titles in the just concluded Sibu Division Table Tennis President’s Cup 2012, in the men’s and women’s sections respectively.
With the victory, both teams brought home the Challenge Cup after they had won the championship for three consecutive years.
Microlink had it all looked easy when they thrashed GS System 3-0 in the first three singles, rendering the two remaining matches redundant.
The third and fourth placing in the men’s section went to Teck Jing Construction and Rimbunan Hijau respectively.
In the women’s section, Ta Ann Holdings dropped a game before edging The Spartum Gym 3-1 to lift the title.
In the first women’s singles, Ta Ann’s Tiong Sie Eng beat The Spartum Gym’s Wong Siaw Ling 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 to secure the first point.
The Spartum came back strongly in the second women’s singles through Lee Ya Mei when she beat Ta Ann’s Tiong Chiao Hee 11-3, 13-11 and 11-8 to level the score at 1-1. In the third doubles, Ta Ann’s Sie Eng combining with Chiao Hee had to dig deep before overcoming stiff resistance from Siaw Ling and Ya Mei to beat them 11-6 in the final set. Both teams had earlier secured two games each.
Ta Ann’s Sie Eng then brushed aside The Spartum’s Ya Mei in the fourth set, winning 11-4, 11-5 and 11-8 to help the team to lift the title.
The third and fourth placing in the women’s section went to Hong Thai Trading Company and Café 12 respectively.
The tournament, organized by Sibu Ping Pong Association (SPPA), attracted a total of 10 men’s teams and nine women’s teams.
The men teams were Rimbunan Hijau, Landas, GS System, Sibu Medical Centre, Rejang Medical centre, WTK (A), WTK (B), Teck Jin Construction, HSBC and Microlink.
In the women’s were Rimbunan Hijau, Café 12, Catholic High School, Ta Ann Holdings, HSBC, Hong Thai Trading Company, Sibu Medical Centre, The Spartum Gym and Rejang Medical Centre.
Meanwhile, SPPA’s chairman Dr Clement Chen said they would be sending two players to represent the state in the coming 49th national table tennis championship in Seremban, Negri Sembilan.
Crystal Tiong, 12, and Edward Ling, 19, gave splendid performance in the recent Kuching meet, each returning with a third placing in the selection trial.
Taking her age into account, Tiong is certainly a rising star in the making when she had to fend off serious challenges mounted by more senior opponents.
Chen was impressed with the fine performance of Tiong at the selection trial, saying she gave SPPA high hope of playing a role in nurturing young and aspiring table tennis players.
“She has the quality to be a future star and hopefully, she will work hard and improve consistently,” he said.