Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee (seventh left), accompanied by MSNS acting director Lucas Kallang Laeng (fifth left), presents the state colours to the paddlers bound for the 35th Milo Malaysia Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship, at the Sarawak State Sports Council on Monday. Seen at right is TTAS chairman Alvin Wong and his deputy Paul Ling (fourth right) and Chung Kui Chai (third right).
KUCHING: The Table Tennis Association of Sarawak (TTAS) are fielding a team of 20 paddlers for the 35th Milo Malaysia Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship in Alor Setar, Kedah from June 10-13.
The team includes 10 paddlers who will represent Malaysia in the 21st South-east Asia Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship in Kuala Lumpur from June 18-21.
Team leader Chung Kui Chai, who is also TTAS technical chairman, said no medal target has been set for the players but expressed optimism that they can do well at the national meet.
In last year’s championship held in Johor, the Sarawak team returned with two gold, one silver and four bronze medals.
“We are not setting any target because we do not want to give them any unnecessary pressure. However, I believe they can perform well because most of them are ranked among the top juniors in the country,” he said.
Sarawak has always done well in the national junior championship and Chung is hoping that the state juniors can maintain that tradition.
Shouldering the challenge in the Boys U18 competition are Jason Siaw Ting Shen and Alan Teo Jie from Kuching; and Calvin Chieng Chun, Tian Fatt Sheng and Wong Zhan Huan from Miri.
The Boys U15 players are Gabriel Ling Kerk Yu from Samarahan and Jonathan Goh Kho Hian Hock, Derrick Tsai Chang Fung, Christopher Goh Kho Hian Hui and Louis Chung Kian Fu from Kuching.
The Girls U18 team comprises Foo Wui Jia, Catherine Chan Zhe Yen and her sister Angel Chan Zhe Yung from Miri, Elicia Tsai Xin Ni from Kuching and the only Bumiputra player 13-year old Bidayuh Karen Lyne Dick from Sibu.
Alice Chang Li Sian of Kuching leads the challenge in the Girls U15, with Tay Lynn Jia (Kuching), Crystal Tiong Hui Man (Sibu), Sim Yuqi (Samarahan) and Foo Wui Ying (Miri) as her teammates.
Team coaches are Thomas Tay Choon Chai, Ang Guat Kee, Kho Mao Sheng, Chai Kian Peng and Ling Tiing Sik.
The state team departed to Kuala Lumpur yesterday where they will transit to Alor Setar by bus.