Crystal Tiong (left), Alice Chang (centre) and Catherine Chan are among the five Sarawakians selected to represent Malaysia in the SEA Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship in Cambodia next month.
KUCHING: Five Sarawak junior paddlers have been selected for national duty following their exceptional performance in the recent junior national championship.
Crystal Tiong of Sibu, Catherine Chan of Miri, and national paddler Alice Chang, Sammi Tay and Christopher Goh Kho from Kuching will represent Malaysia at the Southeast Asia Junior and Cadet Championships in Cambodia from July 9-12.
At the recent Milo Malaysia Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak successfully retained its overall championship crown after capturing four gold, two silver and four bronze medals.
Table Tennis Association of Sarawak (TTAS) had sent a strong seven-member coaching team under the leadership of the newly elected TTAS chairman Tan Keng Yew, head coach Chung Kui Chai and team manager Yohan Beeck to support the state youth players at the national tournament.
“The selection of five Sarawak paddlers into the national junior team is a very good achievement for us because out of the 14 spots available, we grabbed five spots,” TTAS president Michael Teo told a press conference yesterday.
He said the five are awaiting the official letters to report for training in Kuala Lumpur on July 2.
In the selection competition right after the national meet, the top 10 players from each category Boys U18, U15 and Girls U18, U15 had to vie for the spots in the national team.
There were four spots each in the Boys U18 and Girls U18 and three each in the Boys U15 and Girls U15.
Crystal, who won the Girls U18 doubles and team events in the national meet, topped the Girls U18 selection while Catherine, who won the Girls U18 singles and team gold medals, was second and Alice third.
Sammi and Christopher also finished third in the Girls U18 and Boys U18 singles selection contest.
TTAS deputy president Ricard Wee, while congratulating the state players and officials for achievement, lamented that the sport was not included in the forthcoming Sukma.
Meanwhile, TTAS chairman Tan joined the chorus of salutations for the state youth players while thanking Ministry of Youth, Sports and Solidarity permanent secretary Kameri Affandi and Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee for their strong support behind the excellent results.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Helena Wee and Chua Chiaw Lian of the Kuching Division Table Tennis Association and other divisional affiliates for continuing to produce high calibre players for Sarawak,” he added.