Good outing for state junior paddlers

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NATIONAL CHAMPIONS:The Girls U-12 team posing with Chong (holding trophy), coach Ling Ching Ang (left, back row) and Sarawak Schools Sports Council table tennis technical chairman Chung Kui Chai (right) at the end of the championship.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS:The Girls U-12 team posing with Chong (holding trophy), coach Ling Ching Ang (left, back row) and Sarawak Schools Sports Council table tennis technical chairman Chung Kui Chai (right) at the end of the championship.

KUCHING: The Sarawak junior paddlers had a respectable performance at the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Table Tennis Championship in Kelantan from Mar 25-29.

They captured the Girls U-12 team title and finished third in the Girls U-18 team event.

Joan Chung Yi Yang from SJK Chung Hua No. 1, Kuching and Elicia Tsai Xin Ni of SJK Chung Hua No. 3, Kuching also excelled in the Girls U-12 doubles contest where they collected the silver.

Other members of the Girls U-12 team were Sammi Tay Yuen Ning from SJK Chung Hua Sg Tapang, Kuching, Tay Lynn Jia from SJK Chung Hua No. 2, Kuching and Karen Lyne Dick from SJK Methodist, Sibu.

Representing Sarawak in the Girls U-18 team event were Crystal Tiong Hui Man from SMK Methodist, Sibu, Michelle Ling Ming from SMK Tung Hua, Sibu, Ting Ying Hii from Chung Hwa Middle School No.1, Kuching, Foo Wui Jia from SM Pei Min, Miri and Kylie Teo Liyi from SMK Green Road, Kuching.

The boys, however, were not up to their best and could only make the last 16 or quarter-finals in their respective categories.

Team manager Clement Chong yesterday described the outing as a good one considering that most of the players are still young and they were competing against older players.

“In fact, our players have done their best. Most of our U-12 players are in primary five and they were competing against primary six opponents,” he said.

“Our players were drawn against seeded players in their respective groups and they could only reach the last 16 or last eight.”

“Hopefully, with the experience gained this year, our players can do better in next year’s challenge,” he added.

At last year’s MSSM championship, Sarawak captured five gold, two silver and four bronze medals to finish second overall.

Meanwhile, two players have been shortlisted to represent Malaysia at the Asian Schools Table Tennis Championships.

They are Foo Wui Jia from Miri and Andy Jong Ngu Suai from SMK Sungai Maong, Kuching. Both have also been selected to represent Sarawak at Sukma XVI in Kuala Lumpur from June 28 to April 7.