SIBU: State paddler Crystal Tiong underlined her credentials when she easily beat Karen Lyne Dick 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-7) to lift the Girls Under 18 title at the Sibu Inter-school Table Tennis Championship recently.
Tiong, 15, and two years older than Karen, provided the spark when she took the first set 11-6 with ease.
Karen battled hard in the second set and was matched point for point until 7-7 before Tiong surged ahead to take the set again at 11-9.
In the third set, both players threw caution to the wind but it was the more experienced Tiong who prevailed, taking the set 11-7 to wrap up the game.
The two players, both students of SMK Methodist, are among the talented players unearthed by Sibu Ping Pong Association in recent years.
The third and fourth placings in the Girls U18 category went to SMK Lanang’s Sia Hsiao Hung and Sia Hsiao Ching respectively.
In the Boys U18 category, Clement Chiew of SMK Sacred Heart was the champion, followed by Wong Khing Yreu of SMK Deshon, Simeon Kwang of SM Catholic and Thomas Ling of SMK Tung Hua.
In the Girls U12 category, Fion Soh (SJK Kian Hin) was the champion, followed by Esther Tiong (SJK Methodist), Sia Hsiao Ling (SJK Thai Kwang) and Lydia Lau (SJK Tung Hua).
In the Boys U12 category, Po Su (SJK Sacred Heart Chinese) was champion, followed by Filmer Yap (SJK Chung Hua), Alden Wong and Stewart Hii (both from SJK Tung Hua).
Meanwhile, in the overall categories, SMK Methodist emerged champion in the Girls U-18 section, followed by SMK Lanang, SM Catholic and SMK St Elizabeth.
In the Boys U18, SM Catholic High was champion, followed by SMK Sacred Heart, SMK Methodist and SMK Tung Hua.