The top five finishers in the boys’ and girls’ categories — U12 boys’ singles champion Benjamin Thian (front left) — posing with organising chairman Chen (back, fifth left) after the prize presentation.
KUCHING: Kuching Zone A and Padawan dominated the MSSR Kuching Under-12 Singles Table Tennis Championship at SJK Chung Hua No. 3 school hall yesterday, as Benjamin Thian Khang Chern and Foo Sze Hui were crowned the boys’ and girls’ champions.
Out of the five slots for the Kuching boys team for the MSSS U12, U18 Table Tennis Championship to be held in Betong from Feb 17-20, Kuching Zone A won three while Padawan took two slots. Benjamin, who studies at SJK Chung Hua No. 3, beat teammate Boon Jia Xian 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-9) in the boys’ singles final. In third place was Brandon Tan Tze Yuan of Padawan who defeated teammate Edwin Tan 3-0 (11-9, 11-5, 11-1) in the play-off. Fifth spot went to Alfred Ting Wei Hong of Kuching Zone A.
Meanwhile, Foo Sze Hui of SJK Chung Hua Batu 4 1/2 and representing Padawan, prevented a Kuching Zone A clean sweep of the singles titles by outplaying Kuching Zone A’s Angeline Tan Xuan 3-0 (11-2, 11-6, 11-4) in the girls’ singles final. Third and fourth placings were won by Kuching Zone A, with Joan Ho Zhi En defeating Joanne Chen Yu Xi 3-1 (7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9). Too Ying Xin of Kuching Zone A booked her place in the Kuching team by finishing in fifth place.
A total of 35 players including 17 girls took part in the one-day competition organised by Bau District Education Department. Organising chairman Chen Chee Keong, who is the headmaster of SJK Chung Hua Musi, Bau, gave away the prizes and closed the event.