TTS Super Stars (from left) Shakirin, Wong and David pose with Telanai16 Lodge’s Brunei representative Rosemary Tay after the prize presentation. — Photo by Teo Chi Wei
KUCHING: TTS Super Stars had to dig deep to overcome PJ Union 3-2 to win the Telanai16 Table Tennis Championship at Extreme Table Tennis Professional Centre on Sunday.
2012 London Summer Paralympics men’s singles bronze medallist David Jacobs led the way for the Super Stars when he beat Choong Javen 3-1 (9-11, 15-13, 16-14, 11-5.
But the tables were turned when recently crowned national men’s singles champion Leong Chee Feng edged former national men’s singles champion and number one Shakirin Ibrahim 3-2 (6-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9) while Sam Yuk Siong followed up with a 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-2) win over Alvin Wong Kang Ho for PJ Union to lead 2-1.
David then leveled the score 2-2 for Super Stars when he beat Leong 3-1 (11-9, 5-11, 14-12, 11-4) and Shakirin grabbed the winning point for Super Stars by edging Choong 3-2 (5-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, 11-5) in the deciding game.
The champions collected RM2,000 cash prize while PJ Union had to be contented with RM1,000.
Joint third were RMAF Table Tennis and MNPE Labuan who each pocketed RM500.
Losing quarterfinalists Perpib B, Telanai 16, Stedy Bro 1 and Gold Medal Sports each walked away with RM250.
In the Loser’s Pool, Kelab Gian Sen Kuching beat ETTA Penang to win RM500 while the latter earned RM300.
Twenty-six teams took part in Kuching’s first major table tennis competition organised by Extreme Table Tennis Professional Centre and sponsored by Telanai 16 Lodge of Brunei.
Other teams included KRB Blue, KRB Red, KRB Green, Perpib A, Serian DTTA, Stedy Bro 2, Stedy Bro 3, Hunter, Extreme, Eagle, TTS All Stars, WIB, Borneo Starcruise, Kuching Elite Ping Pong Training Centre Purple, Kuching Elite Ping Pong Training Centre Red and TTS Junior Stars.